Glucose-regulating polypeptides and methods of making and using same

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to compositions comprising glucose regulating peptides linked to extended recombinant polypeptide (XTEN), isolated nucleic acids encoding the compositions and vectors and host cells containing the same, and methods of making and using such compositions in treatment of glucose regulating peptide-related diseases, disorders, and conditions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/699,761, filed Feb. 3, 2010, which in turn claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/149,669, filed Feb. 3, 2009, 61/185,112, filed Jun. 8, 2009, 61/268,193, filed Jun. 8, 2009, 61/236,493, filed Aug. 24, 2009, 61/236,836, filed Aug. 25, 2009, 61/243,707, filed Sep. 18, 2009, 61/245,490, filed Sep. 24, 2009, 61/280,955, filed Nov. 10, 2009, 61/280,956, filed Nov. 10, 2009, and 61/281,109, filed Nov. 12, 2009. This application also claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/268,193, filed Jun. 8, 2009, 61/236,836, filed Aug. 25, 2009, 61/280,955, filed Nov. 10, 2009 and PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US10/23106, filed Feb. 3, 2010, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

This invention was made with government support under SBIR grant 2R44GM079873-02 awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The government has certain rights in the invention.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted via EFS-Web and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Jul. 28, 2010, is named 32887122.txt and is 3,692,063 bytes in size.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Glucose-regulating peptides are critical regulatory components of human metabolism. Various peptides have been described with biological effects that result in either an increase or decrease in serum glucose levels. These peptides tend to be highly homologous to each other, even when they possess opposite biological functions. Many glucose regulating peptides, including those used as therapeutics, are typically labile molecules exhibiting short shelf-lives, particularly when formulated in aqueous solutions. In addition, many glucose regulating peptides have limited solubility, or become aggregated during recombinant productions, requiring complex solubilization and refolding procedures. Various chemical polymers can be attached to such peptides and proteins to modify their properties. Of particular interest are hydrophilic polymers that have flexible conformations and are well hydrated in aqueous solutions. A frequently used polymer is polyethylene glycol (PEG). These polymers tend to have large hydrodynamic radii relative to their molecular weight (Kubetzko, S., et al. (2005) Mol Pharmacol, 68: 1439-54), and can result in enhanced pharmacokinetic properties. However, the chemical conjugation of polymers to proteins requires complex multi-step processes; typically, the protein component needs to be produced and purified prior to the chemical conjugation step and the conjugation step can result in the formation of heterogeneous product mixtures that need to be separated, leading to significant product loss. Alternatively, such mixtures can be used as the final pharmaceutical product, but are difficult to standardize. Some examples are currently marketed PEGylated Interferon-alpha products that are used as mixtures (Wang, B. L., et al. (1998) J Submicrosc Cytol Pathol, 30: 503-9; Dhalluin, C., et al. (2005) Bioconjug Chem, 16: 504-17). Such mixtures are difficult to reproducibly manufacture and characterize as they contain isomers with reduced or no therapeutic activity.

Albumin and immunoglobulin fragments such as Fc regions have been used to conjugate other biologically active proteins, with unpredictable outcomes with respect to increases in half-life or immunogenicity. Unfortunately, the Fc domain does not fold efficiently during recombinant expression and tends to form insoluble precipitates known as inclusion bodies. These inclusion bodies must be solubilized and functional protein must be renatured. This is a time-consuming, inefficient, and expensive process that requires additional manufacturing steps and often complex purification procedures.

Thus, there remains a significant need for compositions and methods that would improve the biological, pharmacological, safety, and/or pharmaceutical properties of glucose regulating peptides.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed to compositions and methods that can be useful for or the treatment of any disease, disorder or condition that is improved, ameliorated, or inhibited by the administration of a glucose regulating peptide. In particular, the present invention provides compositions of fusion proteins comprising one or more extended recombinant polypeptides with a non-repetitive sequence and/or unstructured conformation (XTEN) linked to glucose regulating peptide (GP). In part, the present disclosure is directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the fusion proteins and the uses thereof for treating glucose regulating peptide-related diseases, disorders or conditions.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an isolated fusion protein, comprising a glucose regulating peptide that is at least about 90%, or about 95%, or about 96%, or about 97%, or about 98%, or about 99% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from Table 1, wherein said glucose regulating peptide is linked to an extended recombinant polypeptide (XTEN) of at least about 100, or at least about 200, or at least about 400, or at least about 800, or at least about 900, or at least about 1000, or at least about 2000, up to about 3000 amino acids residues, wherein the XTEN is characterized in that (a) the XTEN comprises at least about 200 contiguous amino acids that exhibits at least about 90%, or about 95%, or about 96%, or about 97%, or about 98%, or about 99% identical to a comparable length of an amino acid sequence selected from a sequence shown in Table 5; (b) the XTEN sequence lacks a predicted T-cell epitope when analyzed by TEPITOPE algorithm, wherein the TEPITOPE algorithm prediction for epitopes within the XTEN sequence is based on a score of −5, or −6, or −7, or −8, or −9 or greater; (c) the XTEN has a subsequence score of less than 10, or less than 9, or less than 8, or less than 7, or less than 6, or less than 5, or even less; and (d) the sum of glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P) residues constitutes more than about 90%, or about 95%, or about 96%, or about 97%, or about 98%, or about 99% of the total amino acid residues of the XTEN. In one embodiment, the glucose regulating peptide of the isolated fusion protein is human glucose regulating peptide. In another embodiment, the isolated fusion protein comprises at least a second XTEN, wherein the fusion protein adopts a multiple-XTEN configuration shown in Table 5, or a variant thereof.

In another embodiment, the XTEN sequence of the GPXTEN fusion proteins is characterized in that is has greater than 90% random coil formation, or about 95%, or about 96%, or about 97%, or about 98%, or about 99% random coil formation as determined by GOR algorithm; and the XTEN sequence has less than 2% alpha helices and 2% beta-sheets as determined by the Chou-Fasman algorithm.

In another embodiment, the invention provides GPXTEN fusion proteins, wherein the XTEN is characterized in that the sum of asparagine and glutamine residues is less than 10% of the total amino acid sequence of the XTEN, the sum of methionine and tryptophan residues is less than 2% of the total amino acid sequence of the XTEN, the XTEN sequence has less than 5% amino acid residues with a positive charge, the XTEN sequence has greater than 90% random coil formation, or about 95%, or about 96%, or about 97%, or about 98%, or about 99% random coil formation as determined by GOR algorithm; and the XTEN sequence has less than 2% alpha helices and 2% beta-sheets as determined by the Chou-Fasman algorithm.

In another embodiment, the invention provides GPXTEN fusion proteins, wherein the XTEN is characterized in that at least about 80%, or at least about 90%, or at least about 91%, or at least about 92%, or at least about 93%, or at least about 94%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 96%, or at least about 97%, or at least about 98%, or at least about 99% of the XTEN sequence consists of non-overlapping sequence motifs wherein each of the sequence motifs has about 9 to about 14 amino acid residues and wherein the sequence of any two contiguous amino acid residues does not occur more than twice in each of the sequence motifs the sequence motifs consist of four to six types of amino acids selected from glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P).

In some embodiments, no one type of amino acid constitutes more than 30% of the XTEN sequence of the GPXTEN. In other embodiments, the XTEN has a sequence in which no three contiguous amino acids are identical unless the amino acid is serine, in which case no more than three contiguous amino acids are serine residues. In still other embodiments, at least about 80%, or about 90%, or about 95%, or about 96%, or about 97%, or about 98%, or about 99%, or 100% of the XTEN sequence consists of non-overlapping sequence motifs, wherein each of the sequence motifs has 12 amino acid residues. In one embodiment, the XTEN sequence consists of non-overlapping sequence motifs, wherein the sequence motifs are from one or more sequences of Table 2.

In some embodiments, GPXTEN fusion proteins exhibits enhanced pharmacokinetic properties compared to GP not linked to XTEN, wherein the enhanced properties include but are not limited to longer terminal half-life, larger area under the curve, increased time in which the blood concentration remains within the therapeutic window, increased time between consecutive doses, and decreased dose in moles over time. In some embodiments, the terminal half-life of the GPXTEN fusion protein administered to a subject is increased at least about two fold, or at least about three-fold, or at least about four-fold, or at least about five-fold, or at least about six-fold, or at least about eight-fold, or at least about ten-fold, or at least about 20-fold, or at least about 40-fold, or at least about 60-fold, or at least about 100-fold compared to GP not linked to XTEN and administered to a subject at a comparable dose. In other embodiments, the enhanced pharmacokinetic property is reflected by the fact that the blood concentrations that remain within the therapeutic window for the GPXTEN fusion protein for a given period are at least about two fold, or at least about three-fold, or at least about four-fold, or at least about five-fold, or at least about six-fold, or at least about eight-fold, or at least about ten-fold longer, or at least about 20-fold, or at least about 40-fold, or at least about 60-fold, or at least about 100-fold, or ever higher as compared to GP not linked to XTEN and administered to a subject at a comparable dose. The increase in half-life and time spent within the therapeutic window permits less frequent dosing and decreased amounts of the fusion protein (in moles equivalent) that are administered to a subject, compared to the corresponding GP not linked to XTEN. In one embodiment, the therapeutically effective dose regimen results in a gain in time of at least two-fold, or at least three-fold, or at least four-fold, or at least five-fold, or at least six-fold, or at least eight-fold, or at least 10-fold, or at least about 20-fold, or at least about 40-fold, or at least about 60-fold, or at least about 100-fold between at least two consecutive C_(max) peaks and/or C_(min) troughs for blood levels of the fusion protein compared to the corresponding GP not linked to the fusion protein and administered using a comparable dose regimen to a subject.

In some embodiments, the XTEN enhances thermostability of a biologically active protein when linked to the biologically active protein wherein the thermostability is ascertained by measuring the retention of biological activity after exposure to a temperature of about 37° C. for at least about 7 days of the biologically active protein in comparison to the XTEN linked to the biologically active protein. In one embodiment of the foregoing, the retention of biological activity in increased by at least about 50%, at least about 60%, at least about 70%, at least about 80%, at least about 90%, at least about 100%, or about 150%, at least about 200%, at least about 300%, or about 500% longer compared to the GP not linked to the XTEN comprises of the XTEN.

In some embodiments, the isolated fusion protein with at least a first XTEN comprises a GP wherein the GP is human glucose regulating peptide. In some embodiments, the isolated fusion protein further comprises a second XTEN, which can be identical or can be different from the first XTEN, and wherein the fusion protein adopts a multiple-XTEN configuration shown in Table 7. In one embodiment of the foregoing, the first and the second XTEN can each be a sequence selected from Table 5, or can exhibit at least at least about 80%, or at least about 90%, or at least about 91%, or at least about 92%, or at least about 93%, or at least about 94%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 96%, or at least about 97%, or at least about 98%, or at least about 99% or 100% sequence identity to a sequence selected from Table 5. In another embodiment, the isolated fusion protein comprising a second XTEN sequence adopts a multiple-XTEN configuration shown in Table 7.

In one embodiment, the isolated fusion protein is less immunogenic compared to the GP not linked to the XTEN, wherein immunogenicity is ascertained by, e.g., measuring production of IgG antibodies selectively binding to the biologically active protein after administration of comparable doses to a subject.

In some embodiments, the glucose regulating peptide and the XTEN of the fusion protein is linked via a spacer, wherein the spacer sequence comprises between about 1 to about 50 amino acid residues that optionally comprises a cleavage sequence. In one embodiment, the cleavage sequence is susceptible to cleavage by a protease. Non-limiting examples of such protease include FXIa, FXIIa, kallikrein, FVIIa, FIXa, FXa, thrombin, elastase-2, granzyme B, MMP-12, MMP-13, MMP-17 or MMP-20, TEV, enterokinase, rhinovirus 3C protease, and sortase A.

In some embodiments, the isolated fusion protein is configured to have reduced binding affinity for a target receptor of the corresponding GP, as compared to the corresponding GP not linked to the fusion protein. In one embodiment, the GPXTEN fusion protein exhibits binding affinity for a target receptor of the GP in the range of about 0.01%-30%, or about 0.1% to about 20%, or about 1% to about 15%, or about 2% to about 10% of the binding affinity of the corresponding GP that lacks the XTEN. In another embodiment, the GPXTEN fusion protein exhibits binding affinity for a target receptor of the GP that is reduced at least about 3-fold, or at least about 5-fold, or at least about 6-fold, or at least about 7-fold, or at least about 8-fold, or at least about 9-fold, or at least about 10-fold, or at least about 12-fold, or at least about 15-fold, or at least about 17-fold, or at least about 20-fold, or at least about 30-fold, or at least about 50-fold, or at least about 100-fold less binding affinity compared to GP not linked to XTEN. In a related embodiment, a fusion protein with reduced affinity can have reduced receptor-mediated clearance and a corresponding increase in half-life of at least about 3-fold, or at least about 5-fold, or at least about 6-fold, or at least about 7-fold, or at least about 8-fold, or at least about 9-fold, or at least about 10-fold, or at least about 12-fold, or at least about 15-fold, or at least about 17-fold, or at least about 20-fold, or at least about 30-fold, or at least about 50-fold, or at least about 100-fold longer compared to the corresponding GP that is not linked to the fusion protein.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an isolated GPXTEN fusion protein comprising an amino acids sequence that has at least about 80%, or at least about 90%, or at least about 91%, or at least about 92%, or at least about 93%, or at least about 94%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 96%, or at least about 97%, or at least about 98%, or at least about 99%, or 100% sequence identity to a sequence selected from Table 35, Table 36, and Table 37.

In some embodiments, the invention provides GPXTEN fusion proteins wherein the GPXTEN exhibits increased solubility of at least three-fold, or at least about four-fold, or at least about five-fold, or at least about six-fold, or at least about seven-fold, or at least about eight-fold, or at least about nine-fold, or at least about ten-fold, or at least about 15-fold, or at least a 20-fold, or at least 40-fold, or at least 60-fold at physiologic conditions compared to the GP not linked to the fusion protein.

In some embodiments, GPXTEN fusion proteins exhibit an increased apparent molecular weight as determined by size exclusion chromatography, compared to the actual molecular weight, wherein the apparent molecular weight is at least about 100 kD, or at least about 150 kD, or at least about 200 kD, or at least about 300 kD, or at least about 400 kD, or at least about 500 kD, or at least about 600 kD, or at least about 700 kD, while the actual molecular weight of each GP component of the fusion protein is less than about 25 kD. Accordingly, the GPXTEN fusion proteins can have an Apparent Molecular Weight that is about 4-fold greater, or about 5-fold greater, or about 6-fold greater, or about 7-fold greater, or about 8-fold greater than the actual molecular weight of the fusion protein. In some cases, the isolated GPXTEN fusion protein of the foregoing embodiments exhibits an apparent molecular weight factor under physiologic conditions that is greater than about 4, or about 5, or about 6, or about 7, or about 8.

The invention contemplates GPXTEN fusion proteins compositions comprising, but not limited to GP selected from Table 1 (or fragments or sequence variants thereof), XTEN selected from Table 5 (or sequence variants thereof) that are in a configuration selected from Table 5. Generally, the resulting GPXTEN will retain at least a portion of the biological activity of the corresponding GP not linked to the XTEN. In other cases, the GP component either becomes biologically active or has an increase in activity upon its release from the XTEN by cleavage of an optional cleavage sequence incorporated within spacer sequences into the GPXTEN.

In one embodiment of the GPXTEN composition, the invention provides a fusion protein of formula I: (XTEN)_(x)-GP-(XTEN)_(y)  I wherein independently for each occurrence, GP is a is a glucose regulating peptide; x is either 0 or 1 and y is either 0 or 1 wherein x+y≦1; and XTEN is an extended recombinant polypeptide.

In some embodiments, the XTEN is fused to the glucose regulating peptide on an N- or C-terminus of the glucose regulating peptide. In some embodiments, the isolated fusion protein comprises a human glucose regulating peptide and a first and a second XTEN selected from AE912, AM923, AE144, and AE288.

In another embodiment of the GPXTEN composition, the invention provides a fusion protein of formula II: (XTEN)_(x)-(GP)-(S)_(y)-(XTEN)_(y)  II wherein independently for each occurrence, GP is a is a glucose regulating peptide; S is a spacer sequence having between 1 to about 50 amino acid residues that can optionally include a cleavage sequence; x is either 0 or 1 and y is either 0 or 1 wherein x+y≦1; and XTEN is an extended recombinant polypeptide.

In another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein is of formula III: (GP)-(S)_(x)-(XTEN)-(S)_(y)-(GP)-(S)_(z)-(XTEN)_(z)  III wherein independently for each occurrence, GP is a is a glucose regulating peptide; S is a spacer sequence having between 1 to about 50 amino acid residues that can optionally include a cleavage sequence; x is either 0 or 1; y is either 0 or 1; z is either 0 or 1; and XTEN is an extended recombinant polypeptide.

In another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein is of formula IV: (XTEN)_(x)-(S)_(y)-(GP)-(S)_(z)-(XTEN)-(GP)  IV wherein independently for each occurrence, GP is a is a glucose regulating peptide; S is a spacer sequence having between 1 to about 50 amino acid residues that can optionally include a cleavage sequence; x is either 0 or 1; y is either 0 or 1; z is either 0 or 1; and XTEN is an extended recombinant polypeptide.

In another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated fusion glucose regulating peptide, wherein the fusion protein is of formula V: (GP)_(x)-(S)_(x)-(GP)-(S)_(y)-(XTEN)  V wherein independently for each occurrence, GP is a is a glucose regulating peptide; S is a spacer sequence having between 1 to about 50 amino acid residues that can optionally include a cleavage sequence; x is either 0 or 1; y is either 0 or 1; and XTEN is an extended recombinant polypeptide.

In another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein is of formula VI: (XTEN)-(S)_(x)-(GP)-(S)_(y)-(GP)  VI wherein independently for each occurrence, GP is a is a glucose regulating peptide; S is a spacer sequence having between 1 to about 50 amino acid residues that can optionally include a cleavage sequence; x is either 0 or 1; y is either 0 or 1; and XTEN is an extended recombinant polypeptide.

In another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein is of formula VII: (XTEN)-(S)_(x)-(GP)-(S)_(y)-(GP)-(XTEN)  VII wherein independently for each occurrence, GP is a is a glucose regulating peptide; S is a spacer sequence having between 1 to about 50 amino acid residues that can optionally include a cleavage sequence; x is either 0 or 1; y is either 0 or 1; and XTEN is an extended recombinant polypeptide.

In another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein is of formula VIII: ((S)_(m)-(GP)_(x)-(S)_(n)-(XTEN)_(y)-(S)_(o))_(t)  VIII wherein t is an integer that is greater than 0 (1, 2, 3, etc.); independently each of m, n, o, x, and y is an integer (0, 1, 2, 3, etc.), GP is a is a glucose regulating peptide; S is an spacer, optionally comprising a cleavage site; and XTEN is an extended recombinant polypeptide, with the proviso that: (1) x+y>1, (2) when t=1, x>0 and y>0, (3) when there is more than one GP, S, or XTEN, each GP, XTEN, or S are the same or are independently different; and (4) when t>1, each m, n, o, x, or y within each subunit are the same or are independently different.

In some embodiments, administration of a therapeutically effective dose of a fusion protein of an embodiment of formulas I-VIII to a subject in need thereof can result in a gain in time of at least two-fold, or at least three-fold, or at least four-fold, or at least five-fold or more spent within a therapeutic window for the fusion protein compared to the corresponding GP not linked to the XTEN of and administered at a comparable dose to a subject. In other cases, administration of a therapeutically effective dose of a fusion protein of an embodiment of formulas I-VIII to a subject in need thereof can result in a gain in time between consecutive doses necessary to maintain a therapeutically effective dose regimen of at least 48 h, or at least 72 h, or at least about 96 h, or at least about 120 h, or at least about 7 days, or at least about 14 days, or at least about 21 days between consecutive doses compared to a GP not linked to XTEN and administered at a comparable dose.

The fusion proteins can be designed to have different configurations, N- to C-terminus, of a GP, XTEN, and optional spacer sequences, including but not limited to XTEN-GP, GP-XTEN, XTEN-S-GP, GP-S-XTEN, XTEN-GP-XTEN, GP-GP-XTEN, XTEN-GP-GP, GP-S-GP-XTEN, XTEN-GP-S-GP, and multimers thereof, or be of a configuration shown in Table 7. The choice of configuration can, as disclosed herein, confer particular pharmacokinetic, physicochemical, or pharmacologic properties.

In some embodiments, the isolated fusion protein is characterized in that: (i) it has a longer half-life compared to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN; (ii) when a smaller molar amount of the fusion protein is administered to a subject in comparison to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN administered to a subject under an otherwise equivalent dose regimen, the fusion protein achieves a comparable area under the curve (AUC) as the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN; (iii) when a smaller molar amount of the fusion protein is administered to a subject in comparison to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN administered to a subject under an otherwise equivalent dose regimen, the fusion protein achieves a comparable therapeutic effect as the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN; (iv) when the fusion protein is administered to a subject less frequently in comparison to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN administered to a subject using an otherwise equivalent molar amount, the fusion protein achieves a comparable area under the curve (AUC) as the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN; (v) when the fusion protein is administered to a subject less frequently in comparison to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN administered to a subject using an otherwise equivalent molar amount, the fusion protein achieves a comparable therapeutic effect as the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN; (vi) when an accumulatively smaller molar amount of the fusion protein is administered to a subject in comparison to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN administered to a subject under an otherwise equivalent dose period, the fusion protein achieves comparable area under the curve (AUC) as the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN; or (vii) when an accumulatively smaller molar amount of the fusion protein is administered to a subject in comparison to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN administered to a subject under an otherwise equivalent dose period, the fusion protein achieves comparable therapeutic effect as the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN.

In one embodiment, the GPXTEN fusion proteins of formulas I-VIII described above exhibit a biological activity of at least about 0.1%, or at least about 1%, or at least about 2%, or at least about 3%, or at least about 4%, or at least about 5%, or at least about 10%, or at least about 20%, or at least about 30%, or at least 40%, or at least about 50%, or at least about 60%, or at least about 70%, or at least about 80%, or at least about 90%, or at least about 95% of the biological activity compared to the GP not linked to the fusion protein. In another embodiment, the GPXTEN fusion proteins of formulas I-VIII bind the same receptors as the corresponding parental GP that is not covalently linked to the fusion protein.

The invention provides a method of producing a fusion protein comprising a glucose regulating peptide fused to one or more extended recombinant polypeptides (XTEN), comprising: (a) providing host cell comprising a recombinant polynucleotide molecule encoding the fusion protein (b) culturing the host cell under conditions permitting the expression of the fusion protein; and (c) recovering the fusion protein. In one embodiment of the method, the glucose regulating peptide of the fusion protein has at least 90% sequence identity to human glucose regulating peptide or a sequence selected from Table 1. In another embodiment of the method, the one or more XTEN of the expressed fusion protein has at least about 90%, or about 91%, or about 92%, or about 93%, or about 94%, or about 95%, or about 96%, or about 97%, or about 98%, or about 99% to about 100% sequence identity to a sequence selected from Table 5. In another embodiment of the method, the polynucleotide encoding the XTEN is codon optimized for enhanced expression of said fusion protein in the host cell. In another embodiment of the method, the host cell is a prokaryotic cell. In another embodiment of the method, the host cell is E. coli. In another embodiment of the method the isolated fusion protein is recovered from the host cell cytoplasm in substantially soluble form.

The invention provides isolated nucleic acids comprising a polynucleotide sequence selected from (a) a polynucleotide encoding the fusion protein of any of the foregoing embodiments, or (b) the complement of the polynucleotide of (a). In one embodiment, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide sequence that has at least 80% sequence identity, or about 85%, or at least about 90%, or about 91%, or about 92%, or about 93%, or about 94%, or about 95%, or about 96%, or about 97%, or about 98%, or about 99% to about 100% sequence identity to (a) a polynucleotide sequence of comparable length selected from Table 35, Table 36, and Table 37; or (b) the complement of the polynucleotide of (a). The invention provides expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid of any of the embodiments hereinabove described in this paragraph. In one embodiment, the expression vector of the foregoing further comprises a recombinant regulatory sequence operably linked to the polynucleotide sequence. In another embodiment, the polynucleotide sequence of the expression vectors of the foregoing is fused in frame to a polynucleotide encoding a secretion signal sequence, which can be a prokaryotic signal sequence. In one embodiment, the secretion signal sequence is selected from OmpA, DsbA, and PhoA signal sequences.

The invention provides a host cell, which can comprise an expression vector disclosed in the foregoing paragraph. In one embodiment, the host cell is a prokaryotic cell. In another embodiment, the host cell is E. coli. In another embodiment, the host cell is a eukaryotic cell.

In one embodiment, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the fusion protein of any of the foregoing embodiments and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another embodiment, the invention provides kits, comprising packaging material and at least a first container comprising the pharmaceutical composition of the foregoing embodiment and a label identifying the pharmaceutical composition and storage and handling conditions, and a sheet of instructions for the reconstitution and/or administration of the pharmaceutical compositions to a subject.

The invention provides a method of treating a glucose regulating peptide-related condition in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the fusion protein of any of the foregoing embodiments. In one embodiment of the method, the glucose regulating peptide-related condition is selected from, but not limited to, juvenile diabetes, type I diabetes, type II diabetes, obesity, acute hypoglycemia, acute hyperglycemia, nocturnal hypoglycemia, chronic hyperglycemia, glucagonomas, secretory disorders of the airway, arthritis, osteoporosis, central nervous system disease, restenosis, neurodegenerative disease, renal failure, congestive heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, cirrhosis, pulmonary edema, hypertension, and disorders wherein the reduction of food intake is desired, stroke, irritable bowel syndrome, myocardial infarction (e.g., reducing the morbidity and/or mortality associated therewith), stroke, acute coronary syndrome (e.g., characterized by an absence of Q-wave) myocardial infarction, post-surgical catabolic changes, hibernating myocardium or diabetic cardiomyopathy, insufficient urinary sodium excretion, excessive urinary potassium concentration, conditions or disorders associated with toxic hypervolemia, (e.g., renal failure, congestive heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, cirrhosis, pulmonary edema, and hypertension), polycystic ovary syndrome, respiratory distress, nephropathy, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, (e.g., with abnormal left ventricular ejection fraction), gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea, postoperative dumping syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome, (i.e., via inhibition of antro-duodenal motility), critical illness polyneuropathy (CIPN), dyslipidemia, organ tissue injury caused by reperfusion of blood flow following ischemia, and coronary heart disease risk factor (CHDRF) syndrome, and any other indication for which the unmodified glucose-regulating peptide (e.g. exendin-4, GLP-1 or glucagon) is utilized, or any other indication for which GP can be utilized (but for which endogenous glucose regulating peptide levels in a subject are not necessarily deficient).

In some embodiments, the composition can be administered subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intravenously. In one embodiment, the composition is administered at a therapeutically effective amount. In one embodiment, the therapeutically effective amount results in a gain in time spent within a therapeutic window for the fusion protein compared to the corresponding GP of the fusion protein not linked to the fusion protein and administered at a comparable dose to a subject. The gain in time spent within the therapeutic window can at least three-fold longer than the corresponding GP not linked to the fusion protein, or alternatively, at least four-fold, or five-fold, or six-fold, or seven-fold, or eight-fold, or nine-fold, or at least 10-fold, or at least 20-fold, or at least about 30-fold, or at least about 50-fold, or at least about 100-fold longer than the corresponding GP not linked to the fusion protein. In some embodiments of the method of treatment, (i) a smaller molar amount of (e.g. of about two-fold less, or about three-fold less, or about four-fold less, or about five-fold less, or about six-fold less, or about eight-fold less, or about 100 fold-less or greater) the fusion protein is administered in comparison to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN under an otherwise same dose regimen, and the fusion protein achieves a comparable area under the curve and/or a comparable therapeutic effect as the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN; (ii) the fusion protein is administered less frequently (e.g., every two days, about every seven days, about every 14 days, about every 21 days, or about, monthly) in comparison to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN under an otherwise same dose amount, and the fusion protein achieves a comparable area under the curve and/or a comparable therapeutic effect as the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN; or (iii) an accumulative smaller molar amount (e.g. about 5%, or about 10%, or about 20%, or about 40%, or about 50%, or about 60%, or about 70%, or about 80%, or about 90% less) of the fusion protein is administered in comparison to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN under the otherwise same dose regimen the fusion protein achieves a comparable area under the curve and/or a comparable therapeutic effect as the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN. The accumulative smaller molar amount is measure for a period of at least about one week, or about 14 days, or about 21 days, or about one month. In some embodiments of the method, the therapeutic effect is a measured parameter selected from HbA1c concentrations, insulin concentrations, stimulated C peptide, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum cytokine levels, CRP levels, insulin secretion and Insulin-sensitivity index derived from an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), body weight, and food consumption.

In another embodiment, invention provides a method of treating a disease, disorder or condition, comprising administering the pharmaceutical composition described above to a subject using multiple consecutive doses of the pharmaceutical composition administered using a therapeutically effective dose regimen. In one embodiment of the foregoing, the therapeutically effective dose regimen can result in a gain in time of at least three-fold, or alternatively, at least four-fold, or five-fold, or six-fold, or seven-fold, or eight-fold, or nine-fold, or at least 10-fold, or at least 20-fold, or at least about 30-fold, or at least about 50-fold, or at least about 100-fold longer time between at least two consecutive C_(max) peaks and/or C_(min) troughs for blood levels of the fusion protein compared to the corresponding GP of the fusion protein not linked to the fusion protein and administered at a comparable dose regimen to a subject. In another embodiment of the foregoing, the administration of the fusion protein results in improvement in at least one measured parameter of a glucose regulating peptide-related disease using less frequent dosing or a lower total dosage in moles of the fusion protein of the pharmaceutical composition compared to the corresponding biologically active protein component(s) not linked to the fusion protein and administered to a subject d using a therapeutically effective regimen to a subject.

The invention further provides use of the compositions comprising the fusion protein of any of the foregoing embodiments in the preparation of a medicament for treating a disease, disorder or condition in a subject in need thereof. In one embodiment of the foregoing, the disease, disorder or condition is selected from, but not limited to, juvenile diabetes, type I diabetes, type II diabetes, obesity, acute hypoglycemia, acute hyperglycemia, nocturnal hypoglycemia, chronic hyperglycemia, glucagonomas, secretory disorders of the airway, arthritis, osteoporosis, central nervous system disease, restenosis, neurodegenerative disease, renal failure, congestive heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, cirrhosis, pulmonary edema, hypertension, and disorders wherein the reduction of food intake is desired, stroke, irritable bowel syndrome, myocardial infarction (e.g., reducing the morbidity and/or mortality associated therewith), stroke, acute coronary syndrome (e.g., characterized by an absence of Q-wave) myocardial infarction, post-surgical catabolic changes, hibernating myocardium or diabetic cardiomyopathy, insufficient urinary sodium excretion, excessive urinary potassium concentration, conditions or disorders associated with toxic hypervolemia, (e.g., renal failure, congestive heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, cirrhosis, pulmonary edema, and hypertension), polycystic ovary syndrome, respiratory distress, nephropathy, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, (e.g., with abnormal left ventricular ejection fraction), gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea, postoperative dumping syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome, (i.e., via inhibition of antro-duodenal motility), critical illness polyneuropathy (CIPN), dyslipidemia, organ tissue injury caused by reperfusion of blood flow following ischemia, and coronary heart disease risk factor (CHDRF) syndrome, and any other indication for which the unmodified glucose-regulating peptide (e.g. exendin-4, GLP-1 or glucagon) is utilized, or any other indication for which GP can be utilized (but for which endogenous glucose regulating peptide levels in a subject are not necessarily deficient). Any of the disclosed embodiments can be practiced alone or in combination depending on the interested application.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 shows schematic representations of exemplary GPXTEN fusion proteins (FIGS. 1A-H), all depicted in an N- to C-terminus orientation. FIG. 1A shows two different configurations of GPXTEN fusion proteins (100), each comprising a single GP and an XTEN, the first of which has an XTEN molecule (102) attached to the C-terminus of a GP (103), and the second of which has an XTEN molecule attached to the N-terminus of a GP (103). FIG. 1B shows two different configurations of GPXTEN fusion proteins (100), each comprising a single GP, a spacer sequence and an XTEN, the first of which has an XTEN molecule (102) attached to the C-terminus of a spacer sequence (104) and the spacer sequence attached to the C-terminus of a GP (103) and the second of which has an XTEN molecule attached to the N-terminus of a spacer sequence (104) and the spacer sequence attached to the N-terminus of a GP (103). FIG. 1C shows two different configurations of GPXTEN fusion proteins (101), each comprising two molecules of a single GP and one molecule of an XTEN, the first of which has an XTEN linked to the C-terminus of a first GP and that GP is linked to the C-terminus of a second GP, and the second of which is in the opposite orientation in which the XTEN is linked to the N-terminus of a first GP and that GP is linked to the N-terminus of a second GP. FIG. 1D shows two different configurations of GPXTEN fusion proteins (101), each comprising two molecules of a single GP, a spacer sequence and one molecule of an XTEN, the first of which has an XTEN linked to the C-terminus of a spacer sequence and the spacer sequence linked to the C-terminus of a first GP which is linked to the C-terminus of a second GP, and the second of which is in the opposite orientation in which the XTEN is linked to the N-terminus of a spacer sequence and the spacer sequence is linked to the N-terminus of a first GP that that GP is linked to the N-terminus of a second GP. FIG. 1E shows two different configurations of GPXTEN fusion proteins (101), each comprising two molecules of a single GP, a spacer sequence and one molecule of an XTEN, the first of which has an XTEN linked to the C-terminus of a first GP and the first GP linked to the C-terminus of a spacer sequence which is linked to the C-terminus of a second GP molecule, and the second of which is in the opposite configuration of XTEN linked to the N-terminus of a first GP which is linked to the N-terminus of a spacer sequence which in turn is linked to the N-terminus of a second molecule of GP. FIG. 1F shows a configuration of GPXTEN fusion protein (105), each comprising one molecule of GP and two molecules of an XTEN linked to the N-terminus and the C-terminus of the GP. FIG. 1G shows a configuration (106) of a single GP linked to two XTEN, with the second XTEN separated from the GP by a spacer sequence. FIG. 1H is a configuration (106) of a two GP linked to two XTEN, with the second XTEN linked to the C-terminus of the first GP and the N-terminus of the second GP, which is at the C-terminus of the GPXTEN.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of exemplary polynucleotide constructs (FIGS. 2A-H) of GPXTEN genes that encode the corresponding GPXTEN polypeptides of FIG. 1; all depicted in a 5′ to 3′ orientation. In these illustrative examples the genes encode GPXTEN fusion proteins with one GP and XTEN (200); or one GP, one spacer sequence and one XTEN (200); two GP and one XTEN (201); or two GP, a spacer sequence and one XTEN (201); one GP and two XTEN (205); or two GP and two XTEN (206). In these depictions, the polynucleotides encode the following components: XTEN (202), GP (203), and spacer amino acids that can include a cleavage sequence (204), with all sequences linked in frame.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of two exemplary monomeric GPXTEN and the ability of the monomeric fusion proteins to bind to a target receptor on a cell surface, with subsequent cell signaling. FIG. 3A shows a GPXTEN fusion protein (100) consisting of a GP (103) and an XTEN (102) and a second GPXTEN fusion protein (105) consisting of a GP linked to two XTEN (105). FIG. 3B shows the interaction of the GPXTEN with the GP on the C-terminus (100) and the GPXTEN with an XTEN on the C-terminus (105) with target receptors (108) to GP on a cell surface (107). In this case, binding to the receptor with high affinity is exhibited when GP has a free C-terminus, while the GPXTEN with a C-terminal XTEN does not bind tightly to the receptor, and disassociates, as seen in FIG. 3C. FIG. 3D shows that the bound GPXTEN (100) with high binding affinity remains bound to the receptor (106) and has been internalized into an endosome (110) within the cell, illustrating receptor-mediated clearance of the bound GP and triggering cell signaling (109), portrayed as stippled cytoplasm.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of representative steps in the assembly, production and the evaluation of a XTEN.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of representative steps in the assembly of a GP-XTEN polynucleotide construct encoding a fusion protein. Individual oligonucleotides 501 are annealed into sequence motifs 502 such as a 12 amino acid motif (“12-mer”), which is subsequently ligated with an oligo containing BbsI, and KpnI restriction sites 503. Additional sequence motifs from a library are annealed to the 12-mer until the desired length of the XTEN gene 504 is achieved. The XTEN gene is cloned into a stuffer vector. The vector encodes a Flag sequence 506 followed by a stopper sequence that is flanked by BsaI, BbsI, and KpnI sites 507 and an exendin-4 (Ex4) gene 508, resulting in the gene 500 encoding an GPXTEN fusion protein.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of representative steps in the assembly of a gene encoding fusion protein comprising a biologically active protein (GP) and XTEN, its expression and recovery as a fusion protein, and its evaluation as a candidate GPXTEN product.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the design of Ex4XTEN expression vectors with different processing strategies. FIG. 7A shows an exemplary expression vector encoding XTEN fused to the 3′ end of the sequence encoding biologically active protein Ex4. Note that no additional leader sequences are required in this vector. FIG. 7B depicts an expression vector encoding XTEN fused to the 5′ end of the sequence encoding Ex4 with a CBD leader sequence and a TEV protease site. FIG. 7C depicts an expression vector as in FIG. 7B where the CBD and TEV processing site have been replaced with an optimized N-terminal leader sequence (NTS). FIG. 7D depicts an expression vector encoding an NTS sequence, an XTEN, a sequence encoding Ex4, and than a second sequence encoding an XTEN.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the step-wise construction of GPXTEN genes that contain N-terminal XTEN encoding sequences linked to a sequence encoding exendin-4 (Ex4) and the subsequent linkage of sequences encoding either 144 or 288 XTEN linked to the C-terminus of XTEN, as described in Example 18.

FIG. 9 shows results of expression assays for the indicated constructs comprising GFP and XTEN sequences. The expression cultures were assayed using a fluorescence plate reader (excitation 395 nm, emission 510 nm) to determine the amount of GFP reporter present. The results, graphed as box and whisker plots, indicate that while median expression levels were approximately half of the expression levels compared to the “benchmark” CBD N-terminal helper domain, the best clones from the libraries were much closer to the benchmarks, indicating that further optimization around those sequences was warranted. The results also show that the libraries starting with amino acids MA had better expression levels than those beginning with ME (see. Example 14).

FIG. 10 shows three randomized libraries used for the third and fourth codons in the N-terminal sequences of clones from LCW546, LCW547 and LCW552, as described in Example 15. The libraries were designed with the third and fourth residues modified such that all combinations of allowable XTEN codons were present at these positions, as shown. In order to include all the allowable XTEN codons for each library, nine pairs of oligonucleotides encoding 12 amino acids with codon diversities of third and fourth residues were designed, annealed and ligated into the NdeI/BsaI restriction enzyme digested stuffer vector pCW0551 (Stuffer-XTEN_AM875-GFP), and transformed into E. coli BL21Gold(DE3) competent cells to obtin colonies of the three libraries LCW0569 (DNA and protein sequences disclosed as SEQ ID NOS 1338 and 1339, respectively), LCW0570 (DNA and protein sequences disclosed as SEQ ID NOS 1340 and 1341, respectively), and LCW0571 (DNA and protein sequences disclosed as SEQ ID NOS 1342 and 1343, respectively).

FIG. 11 shows a histogram of a retest of the top 75 clones after the optimization step, as described in Example 15, for GFP fluorescence signal, relative to the benchmark CBD_AM875 construct. The results indicated that several clones were now superior to the benchmark clones.

FIG. 12 is a schematic of a combinatorial approach undertaken for the union of codon optimization preferences for two regions of the N-terminus 48 amino acids, as described in Example 16. The approach created novel 48 mers at the N-terminus of the XTEN protein for evaluation of the optimization of expression that resulted in leader sequences that may be a solution for expression of XTEN proteins where the XTEN is N-terminal to the GP.

FIG. 13 shows an SDS-PAGE gel confirming expression of preferred clones obtained from the XTEN N-terminal codon optimization experiments, in comparison to benchmark XTEN clones comprising CBD leader sequences at the N-terminus of the construct sequences.

FIG. 14 shows an SDS-PAGE gel of samples from a stability study of the fusion protein of XTEN_AE864 fused to the N-terminus of GFP (see Example 24). The GFP-XTEN was incubated in cynomolgus plasma and rat kidney lysate for up to 7 days at 37° C. In addition, GFP-XTEN administered to cynomolgus monkeys was also assessed. Samples were withdrawn at 0, 1 and 7 days and analyzed by SDS PAGE followed by detection using Western analysis and detection with antibodies against GFP.

FIG. 15 shows an SDS-PAGE gel confirming expression of glucagon fused to XTEN of various lengths; i.e., Y288, Y144, Y72 and Y36, in comparison to molecular weight standards.

FIG. 16 shows results of a of a size exclusion chromatography analysis of glucagon-XTEN construct samples measured against protein standards of known molecular weight, with the graph output as absorbance versus retention volume, as described in Example 22. The glucagon-XTEN constructs are 1) glucagon-Y288; 2) glucagonY-144; 3) glucagon-Y72; and 4) glucagon-Y36. The results indicate an increase in apparent molecular weight with increasing length of XTEN moiety.

FIG. 17 shows the pharmacokinetic results of the GPXTEN Ex4-AE864 administered to cynomolgus monkeys by the subcutaneous and intravenous routes (see Example 27 for experimental details).

FIG. 18 illustrates allometric scaling results for predicted human response to Ex4-XTEN_AE864 based on measured results from four animal species; i.e., mice, rats, cynomolgus monkeys and dogs, as described in Example 28. FIG. 18A shows measured terminal half-life versus body mass, with a predicted T½ in humans of 139 h. FIG. 18B shows measured drug clearance versus body mass, with a predicted clearance rate value of 30 ml/h in humans. FIG. 18C shows measured volume of distribution versus body mass, with a predicted value of 5970 ml in humans.

FIG. 19 shows results of studies of the biophysical characterization and stability of Gcg-XTEN (see Example 21 for experimental details). FIG. 19A is a SDS-PAGE analysis of the purified protein product (lane 2). Molecular weight markers are shown in lane 1 with relevant size markers labeled at the left. Note that the true molecular weight of the molecule is 16305 Daltons (confirmed by mass spectrometry; not shown). Slow migration in SDS-PAGE relative to globular protein standards is typical of XTEN fusion proteins due to differences in primary amino acid composition. FIG. 19B shows results of a glucagon receptor (GcgR) Ca2+-flux assay comparing the efficacy of Gcg-XTEN to unmodified glucagon. Calculated EC50 values for each curve fit are shown. FIG. 19C shows results of a reverse phase C18 HPLC analysis. FIG. 19D shows results of a size exclusion chromatography HPLC analysis of the purified Gcg-XTEN construct at the time of production. FIG. 19E shows results of a reverse phase C18 HPLC analysis. FIG. 19F shows results of size exclusion chromatography HPLC analyses of Gcg-XTEN after 6 months storage at either −80° C., 2-8° C., or 25° C., with all three curves essentially superimposed.

FIG. 20 shows results of a pharmacodynamic study in dogs dosed with glucagon or Gcg-XTEN (see Example 29 for experimental details). Glucagon (FIG. 20A) or Gcg-XTEN (FIG. 20B) was injected at 14 or 12 nmol/kg, respectively, into fasted beagle dogs (n=4 per group) and blood glucose levels were monitored in comparison to placebo injection, as shown in FIG. 20C. The difference in blood glucose area under the curve for the first hour after injection of placebo, Gcg-XTEN, or Glucagon (Gcg) relative to pre-injection baseline is shown (n=4-8 animals per group). The dose level for each group is indicated.

FIG. 21 shows results of a pharmacodynamic study in dogs dosed with glucagon or Gcg-XTEN and challenged with insulin in order to test whether Gcg-XTEN confers temporally-controlled resistance to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in dogs (see Example 30 for experimental details). Beagle dogs were fed three hours prior to the start of the experiment and fasted thereafter. At time=0, animals received either a dose of 0.6 nmol/kg Gcg-XTEN or placebo (open arrows). Animals (n=4 per group) received a challenge of 0.05 U/kg insulin to induce hypoglycemia at either 6 hr (FIG. 21A), indicated by solid arrow, or 12 hr (FIG. 21B) after initial dose, indicated by solid arrow. FIG. 21C represents a hypothetical timeline for human administration over a meal-sleep-wake cycle that is intended to correspond to the dosage administration and experimental design of the experiment.

FIG. 22 shows results of a pharmacodynamic experiment dosed with glucagon or Gcg-XTEN_Y288 (Construct 1) to test the ability of the compounds to inhibit an increase in blood glucose after the end of fasting in cynomolgus monkeys (see Example 31 for experimental details). FIGS. 22A-C show overlaid plots of blood glucose profiles after placebo or Gcg-XTEN288 administration for three individual cynomolgus monkeys. Solid arrows mark the time when food was returned to the animals (t=6 hours).

FIG. 23 shows body weight results from a pharmacodynamic and metabolic study using a combination of two GPXTEN fusion proteins; i.e., glucagon linked to Y288 (Gcg-XTEN) and exendin-4 linked to AE864 (Ex4-XTEN) to evaluate the combination for efficacy in a diet-induced obesity model in mice (see Example 26 for experimental details). The graph shows change in body weight in Diet-Induced Obese mice over the course of 28 days continuous drug administration. Values shown are the average+/−SEM of 10 animals per group (20 animals in the placebo group).

FIG. 24 shows change in fasting glucose levels from a pharmacodynamic and metabolic study using single and combinations of two GPXTEN fusion proteins; i.e., glucagon linked to Y288 (Gcg-XTEN) and exendin-4 linked to AE864 (Ex4-XTEN) in a diet-induced obesity model in mice (see Example 26 for experimental details). Groups are as follows: Gr. 1 Tris Vehicle; Gr. 2 Ex4-AE576, 10 mg/kg; Gr. 3 Ex4-AE576, 20 mg/kg; Gr. 4 Vehicle, 50% DMSO; Gr. 5 Exenatide, 30 μg/kg/day; Gr. 6 Exenatide, 30 uL/kg/day+Gcg-Y288 20 μg/kg; Gr. 7 Gcg-Y288, 20 μg/kg; Gr. 8 Gcg-Y288, 40 μg/kg; Gr. 9 Ex4-AE576 10 mg/kg+Gcg-Y288 20 μg/kg; Gr. 10 Gcg-Y288 40 μg/kg+Ex4-AE576 20 mg/kg. The graph shows the change in fasting blood glucose levels in Diet-Induced Obese mice over the course of 28 days continuous drug administration. Values shown are the average+/−SEM of 10 animals per group (20 animals in the placebo group).

FIG. 25 shows the triglyceride and cholesterol levels in Diet-Induced Obese mice after 28 days continuous drug administration of Gcg-XTEN and exendin-4, either singly or in combination (see Example 26 for experimental details). Values shown are the average+/−SEM of 10 animals per group.

FIG. 26 shows the results of a pharmacokinetic study in cynomolgus monkeys testing the effects of XTEN length with different compositions of GFP linked to XTEN administered either subcutaneously or intravenously, as described in Example 23. The compositions were GFP-L288, GFP-L576, GFP-AF576, GFP-Y576 and AD836-GFP. Results are presented as the plasma concentration versus time (h) after dosing.

FIG. 27 shows the near UV circular dichroism spectrum of Ex4-XTEN_AE864, performed as described in Example 34.

FIG. 28 shows the results of blood levels over time for glucagon-XTEN fusion proteins administered to cynomolgus monkeys, as described in Example 32. The GPXTEN administered were glucagon-Y288, glucagonY-144, and glucagon-Y72. The results from the glucagon-Y144 dosing shows <3-fold variation in blood levels over 0-6 hrs, with blood levels dropping below the 10× threshold from the C_(max) at 10-12 hours.

FIG. 29 shows the results of an in vitro cellular assay for GLP-1 activity, comparing exendin-4 from two commercial sources (closed triangles) to exendin-4 linked to Y288 (closed squares), with untreated cells (closed diamonds) used as a negative control (see Example 35 for experimental details). The EC50 is indicated by the dashed line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before the embodiments of the invention are described, it is to be understood that such embodiments are provided by way of example only, and that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein, can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention.

DEFINITIONS

As used herein, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them unless specified otherwise.

As used in the specification and claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “a cell” includes a plurality of cells, including mixtures thereof.

The terms “polypeptide”, “peptide”, and “protein” are used interchangeably herein to refer to polymers of amino acids of any length. The polymer may be linear or branched, it may comprise modified amino acids, and it may be interrupted by non amino acids. The terms also encompass an amino acid polymer that has been modified, for example, by disulfide bond formation, glycosylation, lipidation, acetylation, phosphorylation, or any other manipulation, such as conjugation with a labeling component.

As used herein the term “amino acid” refers to either natural and/or unnatural or synthetic amino acids, including but not limited to glycine and both the D or L optical isomers, and amino acid analogs and peptidomimetics. Standard single or three letter codes are used to designate amino acids.

The term “natural L-amino acid” means the L optical isomer forms of glycine (G), proline (P), alanine (A), valine (V), leucine (L), isoleucine (I), methionine (M), cysteine (C), phenylalanine (F), tyrosine (Y), tryptophan (W), histidine (H), lysine (K), arginine (R), glutamine (Q), asparagine (N), glutamic acid (E), aspartic acid (D), serine (S), and threonine (T).

The term “non-naturally occurring,” as applied to sequences and as used herein, means polypeptide or polynucleotide sequences that do not have a counterpart to, are not complementary to, or do not have a high degree of homology with a wild-type or naturally-occurring sequence found in a mammal. For example, a non-naturally occurring polypeptide may share no more than 99%, 98%, 95%, 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50% or even less amino acid sequence identity as compared to a natural sequence when suitably aligned.

The terms “hydrophilic” and “hydrophobic” refer to the degree of affinity that a substance has with water. A hydrophilic substance has a strong affinity for water, tending to dissolve in, mix with, or be wetted by water, while a hydrophobic substance substantially lacks affinity for water, tending to repel and not absorb water and tending not to dissolve in or mix with or be wetted by water. Amino acids can be characterized based on their hydrophobicity. A number of scales have been developed. An example is a scale developed by Levitt, M, et al., J Mol Biol (1976) 104:59, which is listed in Hopp, T P, et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (1981) 78:3824. Examples of “hydrophilic amino acids” are arginine, lysine, threonine, alanine, asparagine, and glutamine. Of particular interest are the hydrophilic amino acids aspartate, glutamate, and serine, and glycine. Examples of “hydrophobic amino acids” are tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, and valine.

A “fragment” is a truncated form of a native biologically active protein that retains at least a portion of the therapeutic and/or biological activity. A “variant” is a protein with sequence homology to the native biologically active protein that retains at least a portion of the therapeutic and/or biological activity of the biologically active protein. For example, a variant protein may share at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% amino acid sequence identity with the reference biologically active protein. As used herein, the term “biologically active protein moiety” includes proteins modified deliberately, as for example, by site directed mutagenesis, insertions, or accidentally through mutations.

A “host cell” includes an individual cell or cell culture which can be or has been a recipient for the subject vectors. Host cells include progeny of a single host cell. The progeny may not necessarily be completely identical (in morphology or in genomic of total DNA complement) to the original parent cell due to natural, accidental, or deliberate mutation. A host cell includes cells transfected in vivo with a vector of this invention.

“Isolated,” when used to describe the various polypeptides disclosed herein, means polypeptide that has been identified and separated and/or recovered from a component of its natural environment. Contaminant components of its natural environment are materials that would typically interfere with diagnostic or therapeutic uses for the polypeptide, and may include enzymes, hormones, and other proteinaceous or non-proteinaceous solutes. As is apparent to those of skill in the art, a non-naturally occurring polynucleotide, peptide, polypeptide, protein, antibody, or fragments thereof, does not require “isolation” to distinguish it from its naturally occurring counterpart. In addition, a “concentrated”, “separated” or “diluted” polynucleotide, peptide, polypeptide, protein, antibody, or fragments thereof, is distinguishable from its naturally occurring counterpart in that the concentration or number of molecules per volume is generally greater than that of its naturally occurring counterpart. In general, a polypeptide made by recombinant means and expressed in a host cell is considered to be “isolated.”

An “isolated” polynucleotide or polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid or other polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid is a nucleic acid molecule that is identified and separated from at least one contaminant nucleic acid molecule with which it is ordinarily associated in the natural source of the polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid. An isolated polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid molecule is other than in the form or setting in which it is found in nature. Isolated polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid molecules therefore are distinguished from the specific polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid molecule as it exists in natural cells. However, an isolated polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid molecule includes polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid molecules contained in cells that ordinarily express the polypeptide where, for example, the nucleic acid molecule is in a chromosomal or extra-chromosomal location different from that of natural cells.

A “chimeric” protein contains at least one fusion polypeptide comprising regions in a different position in the sequence than that which occurs in nature. The regions may normally exist in separate proteins and are brought together in the fusion polypeptide; or they may normally exist in the same protein but are placed in a new arrangement in the fusion polypeptide. A chimeric protein may be created, for example, by chemical synthesis, or by creating and translating a polynucleotide in which the peptide regions are encoded in the desired relationship.

“Conjugated”, “linked,” “fused,” and “fusion” are used interchangeably herein. These terms refer to the joining together of two or more chemical elements or components, by whatever means including chemical conjugation or recombinant means. For example, a promoter or enhancer is operably linked to a coding sequence if it affects the transcription of the sequence. Generally, “operably linked” means that the DNA sequences being linked are contiguous, and in reading phase or in-frame. An “in-frame fusion” refers to the joining of two or more open reading frames (ORFs) to form a continuous longer ORF, in a manner that maintains the correct reading frame of the original ORFs. Thus, the resulting recombinant fusion protein is a single protein containing two or more segments that correspond to polypeptides encoded by the original ORFs (which segments are not normally so joined in nature).

In the context of polypeptides, a “linear sequence” or a “sequence” is an order of amino acids in a polypeptide in an amino to carboxyl terminus direction in which residues that neighbor each other in the sequence are contiguous in the primary structure of the polypeptide. A “partial sequence” is a linear sequence of part of a polypeptide that is known to comprise additional residues in one or both directions.

“Heterologous” means derived from a genotypically distinct entity from the rest of the entity to which it is being compared. For example, a glycine rich sequence removed from its native coding sequence and operatively linked to a coding sequence other than the native sequence is a heterologous glycine rich sequence. The term “heterologous” as applied to a polynucleotide, a polypeptide, means that the polynucleotide or polypeptide is derived from a genotypically distinct entity from that of the rest of the entity to which it is being compared.

The terms “polynucleotides”, “nucleic acids”, “nucleotides” and “oligonucleotides” are used interchangeably. They refer to a polymeric form of nucleotides of any length, either deoxyribonucleotides or ribonucleotides, or analogs thereof. Polynucleotides may have any three-dimensional structure, and may perform any function, known or unknown. The following are non-limiting examples of polynucleotides: coding or non-coding regions of a gene or gene fragment, loci (locus) defined from linkage analysis, exons, introns, messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA, ribosomal RNA, ribozymes, cDNA, recombinant polynucleotides, branched polynucleotides, plasmids, vectors, isolated DNA of any sequence, isolated RNA of any sequence, nucleic acid probes, and primers. A polynucleotide may comprise modified nucleotides, such as methylated nucleotides and nucleotide analogs. If present, modifications to the nucleotide structure may be imparted before or after assembly of the polymer. The sequence of nucleotides may be interrupted by non-nucleotide components. A polynucleotide may be further modified after polymerization, such as by conjugation with a labeling component.

The term “complement of a polynucleotide” denotes a polynucleotide molecule having a complementary base sequence and reverse orientation as compared to a reference sequence, such that it could hybridize with a reference sequence with complete fidelity.

“Recombinant” as applied to a polynucleotide means that the polynucleotide is the product of various combinations of in vitro cloning, restriction and/or ligation steps, and other procedures that result in a construct that can potentially be expressed in a host cell.

The terms “gene” or “gene fragment” are used interchangeably herein. They refer to a polynucleotide containing at least one open reading frame that is capable of encoding a particular protein after being transcribed and translated. A gene or gene fragment may be genomic or cDNA, as long as the polynucleotide contains at least one open reading frame, which may cover the entire coding region or a segment thereof. A “fusion gene” is a gene composed of at least two heterologous polynucleotides that are linked together.

“Homology” or “homologous” refers to sequence similarity or interchangeability between two or more polynucleotide sequences or two or more polypeptide sequences. When using a program such as BestFit to determine sequence identity, similarity or homology between two different amino acid sequences, the default settings may be used, or an appropriate scoring matrix, such as blosum45 or blosum80, may be selected to optimize identity, similarity or homology scores. Preferably, polynucleotides that are homologous are those which hybridize under stringent conditions as defined herein and have at least 70%, or at least 80%, or at least 90%, or 95%, or 97%, or 98%, or 99% sequence identity to those sequences.

“Ligation” refers to the process of forming phosphodiester bonds between two nucleic acid fragments or genes, linking them together. To ligate the DNA fragments or genes together, the ends of the DNA must be compatible with each other. In some cases, the ends will be directly compatible after endonuclease digestion. However, it may be necessary to first convert the staggered ends commonly produced after endonuclease digestion to blunt ends to make them compatible for ligation.

The terms “stringent conditions” or “stringent hybridization conditions” includes reference to conditions under which a polynucleotide will hybridize to its target sequence, to a detectably greater degree than other sequences (e.g., at least 2-fold over background). Generally, stringency of hybridization is expressed, in part, with reference to the temperature and salt concentration under which the wash step is carried out. Typically, stringent conditions will be those in which the salt concentration is less than about 1.5 M Na ion, typically about 0.01 to 1.0 M Na ion concentration (or other salts) at pH 7.0 to 8.3 and the temperature is at least about 30° C. for short polynucleotides (e.g., 10 to 50 nucleotides) and at least about 60° C. for long polynucleotides (e.g., greater than 50 nucleotides)—for example, “stringent conditions” can include hybridization in 50% formamide, 1 M NaCl, 1% SDS at 37° C., and three washes for 15 min each in 0.1×SSC/1% SDS at 60 to 65° C. Alternatively, temperatures of about 65° C., 60° C., 55° C., or 42° C. may be used. SSC concentration may be varied from about 0.1 to 2×SSC, with SDS being present at about 0.1%. Such wash temperatures are typically selected to be about 5° C. to 20° C. lower than the thermal melting point for the specific sequence at a defined ionic strength and pH. The Tm is the temperature (under defined ionic strength and pH) at which 50% of the target sequence hybridizes to a perfectly matched probe. An equation for calculating Tm and conditions for nucleic acid hybridization are well known and can be found in Sambrook, J. et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2^(nd) ed., vol. 1-3, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Plainview N.Y.; specifically see volume 2 and chapter 9. Typically, blocking reagents are used to block non-specific hybridization. Such blocking reagents include, for instance, sheared and denatured salmon sperm DNA at about 100-200 μg/ml. Organic solvent, such as formamide at a concentration of about 35-50% v/v, may also be used under particular circumstances, such as for RNA:DNA hybridizations. Useful variations on these wash conditions will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The terms “percent identity” and “% identity,” as applied to polynucleotide sequences, refer to the percentage of residue matches between at least two polynucleotide sequences aligned using a standardized algorithm. Such an algorithm may insert, in a standardized and reproducible way, gaps in the sequences being compared in order to optimize alignment between two sequences, and therefore achieve a more meaningful comparison of the two sequences. Percent identity may be measured over the length of an entire defined polynucleotide sequence, for example, as defined by a particular SEQ ID number, or may be measured over a shorter length; for example, over the length of a fragment taken from a larger, defined polynucleotide sequence, for instance, a fragment of at least 45, at least 60, at least 90, at least 120, at least 150, at least 210 or at least 450 contiguous residues. Such lengths are exemplary only, and it is understood that any fragment length supported by the sequences shown herein, in the tables, figures or Sequence Listing, may be used to describe a length over which percentage identity may be measured.

“Percent (%) amino acid sequence identity,” with respect to the polypeptide sequences identified herein, is defined as the percentage of amino acid residues in a query sequence that are identical with the amino acid residues of a second, reference polypeptide sequence or a portion thereof, after aligning the sequences and introducing gaps, if necessary, to achieve the maximum percent sequence identity, and not considering any conservative substitutions as part of the sequence identity. Alignment for purposes of determining percent amino acid sequence identity can be achieved in various ways that are within the skill in the art, for instance, using publicly available computer software such as BLAST, BLAST-2, ALIGN or Megalign (DNASTAR) software. Those skilled in the art can determine appropriate parameters for measuring alignment, including any algorithms needed to achieve maximal alignment over the full length of the sequences being compared. Percent identity may be measured over the length of an entire defined polypeptide sequence, for example, as defined by a particular SEQ ID number, or may be measured over a shorter length, for example, over the length of a fragment taken from a larger, defined polypeptide sequence, for instance, a fragment of at least 15, at least 20, at least 30, at least 40, at least 50, at least 70 or at least 150 contiguous residues. Such lengths are exemplary only, and it is understood that any fragment length supported by the sequences shown herein, in the tables, figures or Sequence Listing, may be used to describe a length over which percentage identity may be measured.

The term “non-repetitiveness” as used herein in the context of a polypeptide refers to a lack or limited degree of internal homology in a peptide or polypeptide sequence. The term “substantially non-repetitive” can mean, for example, that there are few or no instances of four contiguous amino acids in the sequence that are identical amino acid types or that the polypeptide has a subsequence score (defined infra) of 10 or less or that there isn't a pattern in the order, from N- to C-terminus, of the sequence motifs that constitute the polypeptide sequence. The term “repetitiveness” as used herein in the context of a polypeptide refers to the degree of internal homology in a peptide or polypeptide sequence. In contrast, a “repetitive” sequence may contain multiple identical copies of short amino acid sequences. For instance, a polypeptide sequence of interest may be divided into n-mer sequences and the number of identical sequences can be counted. Highly repetitive sequences contain a large fraction of identical sequences while non-repetitive sequences contain few identical sequences. In the context of a polypeptide, a sequence can contain multiple copies of shorter sequences of defined or variable length, or motifs, in which the motifs themselves have non-repetitive sequences, rendering the full-length polypeptide substantially non-repetitive. The length of polypeptide within which the non-repetitiveness is measured can vary from 3 amino acids to about 200 amino acids, about from 6 to about 50 amino acids, or from about 9 to about 14 amino acids. “Repetitiveness” used in the context of polynucleotide sequences refers to the degree of internal homology in the sequence such as, for example, the frequency of identical nucleotide sequences of a given length. Repetitiveness can, for example, be measured by analyzing the frequency of identical sequences.

A “vector” is a nucleic acid molecule, preferably self-replicating in an appropriate host, which transfers an inserted nucleic acid molecule into and/or between host cells. The term includes vectors that function primarily for insertion of DNA or RNA into a cell, replication of vectors that function primarily for the replication of DNA or RNA, and expression vectors that function for transcription and/or translation of the DNA or RNA. Also included are vectors that provide more than one of the above functions. An “expression vector” is a polynucleotide which, when introduced into an appropriate host cell, can be transcribed and translated into a polypeptide(s). An “expression system” usually connotes a suitable host cell comprised of an expression vector that can function to yield a desired expression product.

“Serum degradation resistance,” as applied to a polypeptide, refers to the ability of the polypeptides to withstand degradation in blood or components thereof, which typically involves proteases in the serum or plasma. The serum degradation resistance can be measured by combining the protein with human (or mouse, rat, monkey, as appropriate) serum or plasma, typically for a range of days (e.g. 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 days), typically at about 37° C. The samples for these time points can be run on a Western blot assay and the protein is detected with an antibody. The antibody can be to a tag in the protein. If the protein shows a single band on the western, where the protein's size is identical to that of the injected protein, then no degradation has occurred. In this exemplary method, the time point where 50% of the protein is degraded, as judged by Western blots or equivalent techniques, is the serum degradation half-life or “serum half-life” of the protein.

The term “t_(1/2)” as used herein means the terminal half-life calculated as ln(2)/K_(el). K_(el) is the terminal elimination rate constant calculated by linear regression of the terminal linear portion of the log concentration vs. time curve. Half-life typically refers to the time required for half the quantity of an administered substance deposited in a living organism to be metabolized or eliminated by normal biological processes. The terms “t_(1/2)”, “terminal half-life”, “elimination half-life” and “circulating half-life” are used interchangeably herein.

“Apparent Molecular Weight Factor” or “Apparent Molecular Weight” are related terms referring to a measure of the relative increase or decrease in apparent molecular weight exhibited by a particular amino acid sequence. The Apparent Molecular Weight is determined using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and similar methods compared to globular protein standards and is measured in “apparent kD” units. The Apparent Molecular Weight Factor is the ratio between the Apparent Molecular Weight and the actual molecular weight; the latter predicted by adding, based on amino acid composition, the calculated molecular weight of each type of amino acid in the composition.

The “hydrodynamic radius” or “Stokes radius” is the effective radius (R_(h) in nm) of a molecule in a solution measured by assuming that it is a body moving through the solution and resisted by the solution's viscosity. In the embodiments of the invention, the hydrodynamic radius measurements of the XTEN fusion proteins correlate with the ‘Apparent Molecular Weight Factor’, which is a more intuitive measure. The “hydrodynamic radius” of a protein affects its rate of diffusion in aqueous solution as well as its ability to migrate in gels of macromolecules. The hydrodynamic radius of a protein is determined by its molecular weight as well as by its structure, including shape and compactness. Methods for determining the hydrodynamic radius are well known in the art, such as by the use of size exclusion chromatography (SEC), as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,406,632 and 7,294,513. Most proteins have globular structure, which is the most compact three-dimensional structure a protein can have with the smallest hydrodynamic radius. Some proteins adopt a random and open, unstructured, or ‘linear’ conformation and as a result have a much larger hydrodynamic radius compared to typical globular proteins of similar molecular weight.

“Physiological conditions” refer to a set of conditions in a living host as well as in vitro conditions, including temperature, salt concentration, pH, that mimic those conditions of a living subject. A host of physiologically relevant conditions for use in in vitro assays have been established. Generally, a physiological buffer contains a physiological concentration of salt and is adjusted to a neutral pH ranging from about 6.5 to about 7.8, and preferably from about 7.0 to about 7.5. A variety of physiological buffers is listed in Sambrook et al. (1989). Physiologically relevant temperature ranges from about 25° C. to about 38° C., and preferably from about 35° C. to about 37° C.

A “reactive group” is a chemical structure that can be coupled to a second reactive group. Examples for reactive groups are amino groups, carboxyl groups, sulfhydryl groups, hydroxyl groups, aldehyde groups, azide groups. Some reactive groups can be activated to facilitate coupling with a second reactive group. Examples for activation are the reaction of a carboxyl group with carbodiimide, the conversion of a carboxyl group into an activated ester, or the conversion of a carboxyl group into an azide function.

“Controlled release agent”, “slow release agent”, “depot formulation” or “sustained release agent” are used interchangeably to refer to an agent capable of extending the duration of release of a polypeptide of the invention relative to the duration of release when the polypeptide is administered in the absence of agent. Different embodiments of the present invention may have different release rates, resulting in different therapeutic amounts.

The terms “antigen”, “target antigen” or “immunogen” are used interchangeably herein to refer to the structure or binding determinant that an antibody fragment or an antibody fragment-based therapeutic binds to or has specificity against.

The term “payload” as used herein refers to a protein or peptide sequence that has biological or therapeutic activity; the counterpart to the pharmacophore of small molecules. Examples of payloads include, but are not limited to, cytokines, enzymes, hormones and blood and growth factors. Payloads can further comprise genetically fused or chemically conjugated moieties such as chemotherapeutic agents, antiviral compounds, toxins, or contrast agents. These conjugated moieties can be joined to the rest of the polypeptide via a linker that may be cleavable or non-cleavable.

The term “antagonist”, as used herein, includes any molecule that partially or fully blocks, inhibits, or neutralizes a biological activity of a native polypeptide disclosed herein. Methods for identifying antagonists of a polypeptide may comprise contacting a native polypeptide with a candidate antagonist molecule and measuring a detectable change in one or more biological activities normally associated with the native polypeptide. In the context of the present invention, antagonists may include proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, antibodies or any other molecules that decrease the effect of a biologically active protein.

The term “agonist” is used in the broadest sense and includes any molecule that mimics a biological activity of a native polypeptide disclosed herein. Suitable agonist molecules specifically include agonist antibodies or antibody fragments, fragments or amino acid sequence variants of native polypeptides, peptides, small organic molecules, etc. Methods for identifying agonists of a native polypeptide may comprise contacting a native polypeptide with a candidate agonist molecule and measuring a detectable change in one or more biological activities normally associated with the native polypeptide.

“Activity” for the purposes herein refers to an action or effect of a component of a fusion protein consistent with that of the corresponding native biologically active protein, wherein “biological activity” refers to an in vitro or in vivo biological function or effect, including but not limited to receptor binding, antagonist activity, agonist activity, or a cellular or physiologic response.

As used herein, “treatment” or “treating,” or “palliating” or “ameliorating” is used interchangeably herein. These terms refer to an approach for obtaining beneficial or desired results including but not limited to a therapeutic benefit and/or a prophylactic benefit. By therapeutic benefit is meant eradication or amelioration of the underlying disorder being treated. Also, a therapeutic benefit is achieved with the eradication or amelioration of one or more of the physiological symptoms associated with the underlying disorder such that an improvement is observed in the subject, notwithstanding that the subject may still be afflicted with the underlying disorder. For prophylactic benefit, the compositions may be administered to a subject at risk of developing a particular disease, or to a subject reporting one or more of the physiological symptoms of a disease, even though a diagnosis of this disease may not have been made.

A “therapeutic effect”, as used herein, refers to a physiologic effect, including but not limited to the cure, mitigation, amelioration, or prevention of disease in humans or other animals, or to otherwise enhance physical or mental wellbeing of humans or animals, caused by a fusion polypeptide of the invention other than the ability to induce the production of an antibody against an antigenic epitope possessed by the biologically active protein. Determination of a therapeutically effective amount is well within the capability of those skilled in the art, especially in light of the detailed disclosure provided herein.

The terms “therapeutically effective amount” and “therapeutically effective dose”, as used herein, refers to an amount of a biologically active protein, either alone or as a part of a fusion protein composition, that is capable of having any detectable, beneficial effect on any symptom, aspect, measured parameter or characteristics of a disease state or condition when administered in one or repeated doses to a subject. Such effect need not be absolute to be beneficial.

The term “therapeutically effective dose regimen”, as used herein, refers to a schedule for consecutively administered doses of a biologically active protein, either alone or as a part of a fusion protein composition, wherein the doses are given in therapeutically effective amounts to result in sustained beneficial effect on any symptom, aspect, measured parameter or characteristics of a disease state or condition.

I) General Techniques

The practice of the present invention employs, unless otherwise indicated, conventional techniques of immunology, biochemistry, chemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, cell biology, genomics and recombinant DNA, which are within the skill of the art. See Sambrook, J. et al., “Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual,” 3^(rd) edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2001; “Current protocols in molecular biology”, F. M. Ausubel, et al. eds., 1987; the series “Methods in Enzymology,” Academic Press, San Diego, Calif.; “PCR 2: a practical approach”, M. J. MacPherson, B. D. Hames and G. R. Taylor eds., Oxford University Press, 1995; “Antibodies, a laboratory manual” Harlow, E. and Lane, D. eds., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1988; “Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics,” 11^(th) Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2005; and Freshney, R. I., “Culture of Animal Cells: A Manual of Basic Technique,” 4^(th) edition, John Wiley & Sons, Somerset, N.J., 2000, the contents of which are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference.

II) Glucose Regulating Peptides

The present invention relates in part to fusion protein compositions comprising glucose regulating peptides (GP). Such compositions can have utility in the treatment or prevention of certain diseases, disorder or conditions related to glucose homeostasis, obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and the like.

Endocrine and obesity-related diseases or disorders have reached epidemic proportions in most developed nations, and represent a substantial and increasing health care burden in most developed nations, which include a large variety of conditions affecting the organs, tissues, and circulatory system of the body. Of particular concern are endocrine and obesity-related diseases and disorders, which. Chief amongst these is diabetes; one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Diabetes is divided into two major sub-classes-Type I, also known as juvenile diabetes, or Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM), and Type II, also known as adult onset diabetes, or Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM). Type I Diabetes is a form of autoimmune disease that completely or partially destroys the insulin producing cells of the pancreas in such subjects, and requires use of exogenous insulin during their lifetime. Even in well-managed subjects, episodic complications can occur, some of which are life-threatening.

In Type II diabetics, rising blood glucose levels after meals do not properly stimulate insulin production by the pancreas. Additionally, peripheral tissues are generally resistant to the effects of insulin, and such subjects often have higher than normal plasma insulin levels (hyperinsulinemia) as the body attempts to overcome its insulin resistance. In advanced disease states insulin secretion is also impaired.

Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia have also been linked with two other metabolic disorders that pose considerable health risks: impaired glucose tolerance and metabolic obesity. Impaired glucose tolerance is characterized by normal glucose levels before eating, with a tendency toward elevated levels (hyperglycemia) following a meal. These individuals are considered to be at higher risk for diabetes and coronary artery disease. Obesity is also a risk factor for the group of conditions called insulin resistance syndrome, or “Syndrome X,” as is hypertension, coronary artery disease (arteriosclerosis), and lactic acidosis, as well as related disease states. The pathogenesis of obesity is believed to be multifactorial but an underlying problem is that in the obese, nutrient availability and energy expenditure are not in balance until there is excess adipose tissue. Other related diseases or disorders include, but are not limited to, gestational diabetes, juvenile diabetes, obesity, excessive appetite, insufficient satiety, metabolic disorder, glucagonomas, retinal neurodegenerative processes, and the “honeymoon period” of Type I diabetes.

Dyslipidemia is a frequent occurrence among diabetics; typically characterized by elevated plasma triglycerides, low HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol, normal to elevated levels of LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol and increased levels of small dense, LDL particles in the blood. Dyslipidemia is a main contributor to an increased incidence of coronary events and deaths among diabetic subjects.

Most metabolic processes in glucose homeostasis and insulin response are regulated by multiple peptides and hormones, and many such peptides and hormones, as well as analogues thereof, have found utility in the treatment of metabolic diseases and disorders. Many of these peptides tend to be highly homologous to each other, even when they possess opposite biological functions. Glucose-increasing peptides are exemplified by the peptide hormone glucagon, while glucose-lowering peptides include exendin-4, glucagon-like peptide 1, and amylin. However, the use of therapeutic peptides and/or hormones, even when augmented by the use of small molecule drugs, has met with limited success in the management of such diseases, disorders and conditions. In particular, dose optimization is important for drugs and biologics used in the treatment of metabolic diseases, especially those with a narrow therapeutic window. Hormones in general, and peptides involved in glucose homeostasis often have a narrow therapeutic window. The narrow therapeutic window, coupled with the fact that such hormones and peptides typically have a short half-life, which necessitates frequent dosing in order to achieve clinical benefit, results in difficulties in the management of such patients. While chemical modifications to a therapeutic protein, such as pegylation, can modify its in vivo clearance rate and subsequent serum half-life, it requires additional manufacturing steps and results in a heterogeneous final product. In addition, unacceptable side effects from chronic administration have been reported. Alternatively, genetic modification by fusion of an Fc domain to the therapeutic protein or peptide increases the size of the therapeutic protein, reducing the rate of clearance through the kidney, and promotes recycling from lysosomes by the FcRn receptor. Unfortunately, the Fc domain does not fold efficiently during recombinant expression and tends to form insoluble precipitates known as inclusion bodies. These inclusion bodies must be solubilized and functional protein must be renatured; a time-consuming, inefficient, and expensive process.

Thus, one aspect of the present invention is the incorporation of peptides involved in glucose homeostasis, insulin resistance and obesity (collectively, “glucose regulating peptides”) in GPXTEN fusion proteins to create compositions that can be used in the treatment of glucose, insulin, and obesity disorders, diseases and related conditions (referred to herein as “glucose regulating peptide-related diseases, disorders or conditions”). Glucose regulating peptides can include any protein of biologic, therapeutic, or prophylactic interest or function that is useful for preventing, treating, mediating, or ameliorating a disease, disorder or condition of glucose homeostasis or insulin resistance or obesity. Suitable glucose-regulating peptides that can be linked to the XTEN to create GPXTEN include all biologically active polypeptides that increase glucose-dependent secretion of insulin by pancreatic beta-cells or potentiate the action of insulin or play a role in glucose homeostasis. Glucose-regulating peptides can also include all biologically active polypeptides that stimulate pro-insulin gene transcription in the pancreatic beta-cells. Furthermore, glucose-regulating peptides can also include all biologically active polypeptides that slow down gastric emptying time and reduce food intake. Glucose-regulating peptides can also include all biologically active polypeptides that inhibit glucagon release from the alpha cells of the Islets of Langerhans. Table 1 provides a non-limiting list of sequences of glucose regulating peptides that are encompassed by the GPXTEN fusion proteins of the invention. Glucose regulating peptides of the inventive GPXTEN compositions can be a peptide that exhibits at least about 80% sequence identity, or alternatively 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity to a protein sequence selected from Table 1.

TABLE 1 Glucose regulating peptides from animal species Name of Protein SEQ (Synonym) Sequence ID NO: Amylin, rat KCNTATCATQRLANFLVRSSNNLGPVLP 1 PTNVGSNTY Amylin, KCNTATCATQRLANFLVHSSNNFGAILS 2 human STNVGSNTY Exendin-3 HSDGTFTSDLSKQMEEEAVRLFIEWLKN 3 GGPSSGAPPPS Exendin-4 HGEGTFTSDLSKQMEEEAVRLFIEWLKN 4 GGPSSGAPPPS Glucagon HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLMN 5 T Glucagon-like HDEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSTLEGQAALEF 6 peptide-1 IAWLVKGRG (hGLP-1) (GLP-1; 1-37) GLP-1 (7-36), HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAALEFIAWLV 7 human KGR GLP-1 (7-37), HAEGTFTSDVSSTLEGQAALEFIAWLVK 8 human GRG GLP-1, frog HAEGTYTNDVTEYLEEKAAKEFIEWL 9 IKGKPKKIRYS Glucagon-like HADGSFSDEMNTILDNLAARDFINWL 10 peptide 2 IETKITD (GLP-2), human GLP-2, frog HAEGTFTNDMTNYLEEKAAKEFVGWLIK 11 GRP-OH

“Amylin” means the human peptide hormone referred to as amylin, pramlintide, and species variations thereof, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,906, having at least a portion of the biological activity of native amylin. Amylin is a 37-amino acid polypeptide hormone co-secreted with insulin by pancreatic beta cells in response to nutrient intake (Koda et al., Lancet 339:1179-1180. 1992), and has been reported to modulate several key pathways of carbohydrate metabolism, including incorporation of glucose into glycogen. Amylin-containing fusion proteins of the invention may find particular use in diabetes and obesity for regulating gastric emptying, suppressing glucagon secretion and food intake, thereby affecting the rate of glucose appearance in the circulation. Thus, the fusion proteins may complement the action of insulin, which regulates the rate of glucose disappearance from the circulation and its uptake by peripheral tissues. Amylin analogues have been cloned, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,686,411 and 7,271,238. Amylin mimetics can be created that retain biologic activity. For example, pramlintide has the sequence KCNTATCATNRLANFLVHSSNNFGPILPPTNVGSNTY (SEQ ID NO: 12), wherein amino acids from the rat amylin sequence are substituted for amino acids in the human amylin sequence. In one embodiment, the invention contemplates fusion proteins comprising amylin mimetics of the sequence

KCNTATCATX₁RLANFLVHSSNNFGX₂ILX₂X₂TNVGSNTY (SEQ ID NO: 13)

wherein X₁ is independently N or Q and X₂ is independently S, P or G. In one embodiment, the amylin mimetic incorporated into a GPXTEN has the sequence KCNTATCATNRLANFLVHSSNNFGGILGGTNVGSNTY (SEQ ID NO: 14). In another embodiment, wherein the amylin mimetic is used at the C-terminus of the GPXTEN, the mimetic has the sequence KCNTATCATNRLANFLVHSSNNFGGILGGTNVGSNTY(NH2) (SEQ ID NO: 15)

“Exendin-3” means a glucose regulating peptide isolated from Heloderma horridum and sequence variants thereof having at least a portion of the biological activity of native exendin-3. Exendin-3 amide is a specific exendin receptor antagonist from that mediates an increase in pancreatic cAMP, and release of insulin and amylase. Exendin-3-containing fusion proteins of the invention may find particular use in the treatment of diabetes and insulin resistance disorders. The sequence and methods for its assay are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,286.

“Exendin-4” means a glucose regulating peptide found in the saliva of the Gila-monster Heloderma suspectum, as well as species and sequence variants thereof, and includes the native 39 amino acid sequence His-Gly-Glu-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Leu-Ser-Lys-Gln-Met-Glu-Glu-Glu-Ala-Val-Arg-Leu-Phe-Ile-Glu-Trp-Leu-Lys-Asn-Gly-Gly-Pro-Ser-Ser-Gly-Ala-Pro-Pro-Pro-Ser (SEQ ID NO: 16) and homologous sequences and peptide mimetics, and variants thereof; natural sequences, such as from primates and non-natural having at least a portion of the biological activity of native exendin-4. Exendin-4 is an incretin polypeptide hormone that decreases blood glucose, promotes insulin secretion, slows gastric emptying and improves satiety, providing a marked improvement in postprandial hyperglycemia. The exendins have some sequence similarity to members of the glucagon-like peptide family, with the highest identity being to GLP-1 (Goke, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 268:19650-55 (1993)). A variety of homologous sequences can be functionally equivalent to native exendin-4 and GLP-1. Conservation of GLP-1 sequences from different species are presented in Regulatory Peptides 2001 98 p. 1-12. Table 2 shows the sequences from a wide variety of species, while Table 3 shows a list of synthetic GLP-1 analogs; all of which are contemplated for use as glucose regulating peptides in the GPXTEN described herein. Exendin-4 binds at GLP-1 receptors on insulin-secreting βPTC1 cells, and also stimulates somatostatin release and inhibits gastrin release in isolated stomachs (Goke, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268:19650-55, 1993). As a mimetic of GLP-1, exendin-4 displays a similar broad range of biological activities, yet has a longer half-life than GLP-1, with a mean terminal half-life of 2.4 h. Exenatide is a synthetic version of exendin-4, marketed as Byetta. However, due to its short half-life, exenatide is currently dosed twice daily, limiting its utility. Exendin-4-containing fusion proteins of the invention may find particular use in the treatment of diabetes and insulin resistance disorders.

“Glucagon” means the human glucagon glucose regulating peptide, or species and sequence variants thereof, including the native 29 amino acid sequence and homologous sequences; natural, such as from primates, and non-natural sequence variants having at least a portion of the biological activity of native glucagon. The term “glucagon” as used herein also includes peptide mimetics of glucagon. Native glucagon is produced by the pancreas, released when blood glucose levels start to fall too low, causing the liver to convert stored glycogen into glucose and release it into the bloodstream. While the action of glucagon is opposite that of insulin, which signals the body's cells to take in glucose from the blood, glucagon also stimulates the release of insulin, so that newly-available glucose in the bloodstream can be taken up and used by insulin-dependent tissues. Glucagon-containing fusion proteins of the invention may find particular use in increasing blood glucose levels in individuals with extant hepatic glycogen stores and maintaining glucose homeostasis in diabetes. Glucagon has been cloned, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,763.

“GLP-1” means human glucagon like peptide-1 and sequence variants thereof having at least a portion of the biological activity of native GLP-1. The term “GLP-1” includes human GLP-1(1-37), GLP-1(7-37), and GLP-1(7-36)amide. GLP-1 stimulates insulin secretion, but only during periods of hyperglycemia. The safety of GLP-1 compared to insulin is enhanced by this property and by the observation that the amount of insulin secreted is proportional to the magnitude of the hyperglycemia. The biological half-life of GLP-1(7-37)OH is a mere 3 to 5 minutes (U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,666). GLP-1-containing fusion proteins of the invention may find particular use in the treatment of diabetes and insulin-resistance disorders for glucose regulation. GLP-1 has been cloned and derivatives prepared, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,666. Non-limited examples of GLP-1 sequences from a wide variety of species are shown in Table 2, while Table 3 shows the sequences of a number of synthetic GLP-1 analogs; all of which are contemplated for use as glucose regulating peptides in the GPXTEN compositions described herein.

TABLE 2 Naturally GLP-1 Homologs SEQ Gene Name ID [Source] Sequence NO: GLP-1 [frog] HAEGTYTNDVTEYLEEKAAKEFIEW 17 LIKGKPKKIRYS GLP-1a  HAEGTFTSDVTQQLDEKAAKEFIDW 18 [Xenopus laevis] LINGGPSKEIIS GLP-1b HAEGTYTNDVTEYLEEKAAKEFIIE 19 [Xenopus laevis] WLIKGKPK GLP-1c HAEGTFTNDMTNYLEEKAAKEFVGWLI 20 [Xenopus laevis] KGRPK Gastric Inhibitory HAEGTFISDYSIAMDKIRQQDFVNWLL 21 Polypeptide [Mus musculus] Glucose-dependent HAEGTFISDYSIAMDKIRQQDFVNWLL 22 insulinotropic polypeptide [Equus caballus] Glucagon-like HADGTFTNDMTSYLDAKAARDFVSWLA 23 peptide RSDKS [Petromyzon marinus] Glucagon-like HAEGTYTSDVSSYLQDQAAKEFVSWLK 24 peptide [Anguilla TGR rostrata] Glucagon-like HAEGTYTSDVSSYLQDQAAKEFVSWLK 25 peptide [Anguilla TGR anguilla] Glucagon-like HADGIYTSDVASLTDYLKSKRFVESLS 26 peptide NYNKRQNDRRM [Hydrolagus colliei] Glucagon-like YADAPYISDVYSYLQDQVAKKWLKSGQ 27 peptide DRRE [Amia calva] GLUC_ICTPU/38-65 HADGTYTSDVSSYLQEQAAKDFITWLKS 28 GLUCL_ANGRO/1-28 HAEGTYTSDVSSYLQDQAAKEFVSWLKT 29 GLUC_BOVIN/98-125 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAKEFIAWLVK 30 GLUC1_LOPAM/91-118 HADGTFTSDVSSYLKDQAIKDFVDRLKA 31 GLUCL_HYDCO/1-28 HADGIYTSDVASLTDYLKSKRFVESLSN 32 GLUC_CAVP0/53-80 HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQQFLKWLLN 33 GLUC_CHIBR/1-28  HSQGTFTSDYSKHLDSRYAQEFVQWLMN 34 GLUC1_LOPAM/53-80 HSEGTFSNDYSKYLEDRKAQEFVRWLMN 35 GLUC_HYDCO/1-28 HTDGIFSSDYSKYLDNRRTKDFVQWLLS 36 GLUC_CALM1/1-28 HSEGTFSSDYSKYLDSRRAKDFVQWLMS 37 GIP_BOVIN/1-28 YAEGTFISDYSIAMDKIRQQDFVNWLLA 38 VIP_MELGA/89-116 HADGIFTTVYSHLLAKLAVKRYLHSLIR 39 PACA_CHICK/131-158 HIDGIFTDSYSRYRKQMAVKKYLAAVLG 40 VIP_CAVP0/45-72 HSDALFTDTYTRLRKQMAMKKYLNSVLN 41 VIP_DIDMA/1-28 HSDAVFTDSYTRLLKQMAMRKYLDSILN 42 EXE1_HELSU/1-28 HSDATFTAEYSKLLAKLALQKYLESILG 43 SLIB_CAPHI/1-28  YADAIFTNSYRKVLGQLSARKLLQDIMN 44 SLIB_RAT/31-58 HADAIFTSSYRRILGQLYARKLLHEIMN 45 SLIB_MOUSE/31-58 HVDAIFTTNYRKLLSQLYARKVIQDIMN 46 PACA_HUMAN/83-110 VAHGILNEAYRKVLDQLSAGKHLQSLVA 47 PACA_SHEEP/83-110 VAHGILDKAYRKVLDQLSARRYLQTLMA 48 PACA_ONCNE/82-109 HADGMFNKAYRKALGQLSARKYLHSLMA 49 GLUC_BOVIN/146-173  HADGSFSDEMNTVLDSLATRDFINWLLQ 50 SECR_CANFA/1-27 HSDGTFTSELSRLRESARLQRLLQGLV 51 SECR_CHICK/1-27  HSDGLFTSEYSKMRGNAQVQKFIQNLM 52 EXE3_HELHO/48-75 HSDGTFTSDLSKQMEEEAVRLFIEWLKN 53

GLP native sequences may be described by several sequence motifs, which are presented below. Letters in brackets represent acceptable amino acids at each sequence position: [HVY] [AGISTV] [DEHQ] [AG] [ILMPSTV] [FLY] [DINST] [ADEKNST] [ADENSTV] [LMVY] [ANRSTY] [EHIKNQRST] [AHILMQVY] [LMRT] [ADEGKQS] [ADEGKNQSY] [AEIKLMQR] [AKQRSVY] [AILMQSTV] [GKQR] [DEKLQR] [FHLVWY] [ILV] [ADEGPIKNQRST] [ADEGNRSTW] [GILVW] [AIKLMQSV] [ADGIKNQRST] [GKRSY]. In addition, synthetic analogs of GLP-1 and pramlintide can be useful as fusion partners to XTEN to create GPXTEN with biological activity useful in treatment of glucose-related disorders. Non-limited examples of synthetic GLP-1 and pramlintide sequences can be found in Table 3. In addition, further sequences homologous to GLP-1, pramlintide, as well as sequences homologous to exendin-4, amylin, or glucagon may be found by standard homology searching techniques.

TABLE 3 GLP-1 and pramlintide synthetic analogs SEQ Analog Sequence ID NO: HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVKGRG  54 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAKEFIAWLVRGRG  55 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAKEFIAWLVKGKG  56 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGKG  57 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGKGR  58 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRK  59 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRRK  60 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVKGKG  61 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAKEFIAWLVRGKG  62 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVKGRGRK  63 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAKEFIAWLVRGRGRRK  64 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGKGRK  65 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGKGRRK  66 HGEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVKGRG  67 HGEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAKEFIAWLVRGRG  68 HGEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAKEFIAWLVKGKG  69 HGEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGKG  70 HGEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRK  71 HGEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRRK  72 HGEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVKGKG  73 HGEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAKEFIAWLVRGKG  74 HGEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVKGRGRK  75 HGEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAKEFIAWLVRGRGRRK  76 HGEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGKGRK  77 HGEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGKGRRK  78 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGK  79 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRK  80 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRRK  81 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREK  82 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFK  83 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPK  84 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPEK  85 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPEEK  86 HDEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGK  87 HDEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRK  88 HDEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRRK  89 HDEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREK  90 HDEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFK  91 HDEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPK  92 HDEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPEK  93 HDEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPEEK  94 DEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRK  95 DEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRRK  96 DEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREK  97 DEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFK  98 DEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPK  99 DEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPEK 100 DEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPEEK  101 EFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGK 102 EFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRK 103 EFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRRK 104 EFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREK 105 EFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFK 106 EFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPK 107 EFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPEK 108 EFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPEEK 109 FERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGK 110 FERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRK 111 FERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRRK 112 FERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREK 113 FERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFK 114 FERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPK 115 FERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPEK 116 FERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPEEK 117 ERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGK 118 ERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRK 119 ERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRRK 120 ERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREK 121 ERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFK 122 ERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPK 123 ERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPEK 124 ERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPEEK 125 RHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGK 126 RHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRK 127 RHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRRK 128 RHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREK 129 RHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFK 130 RHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPK 131 RHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPEK 132 RHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGRREFPEEK 133 HDEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVKGRGK 134 HDEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAKEFIAWLVRGRGK 135 HDEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGKGK 136 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVKGRGK 137 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAKEFIAWLVRGRGK 138 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGKGK 139 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGRGK 140 HDEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVKGRGRK 141 HDEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAKEFIAWLVRGRGRK 142 HDEFERHAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGKGRK 143 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVKGRGRK 144 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAKEFIAWLVRGRGRK 145 HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGKGRK 146 HGEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVKGRGK 147 HGEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAREFIAWLVRGKGK 148 KCNTATCATNRLANFLVHSSNNFGPILPPTNVGSNTY  149 KCNTATCATNRLANFLVHSSNNFGGILPPTNVGSNTY 150 KCNTATCATNRLANFLVHSSNNFGPILGPTNVGSNTY 151 KCNTATCATNRLANFLVHSSNNFGPILPGTNVGSNTY 152 KCNTATCATNRLANFLVHSSNNFGGILGPTNVGSNTY  153 KCNTATCATNRLANFLVHSSNNFGPILGGTNVGSNTY 154 KCNTATCATNRLANFLVHSSNNFGGILPGTNVGSNTY 155 KCNTATCATNRLANFLVHSSNNFGGILGGTNVGSNTY 156

“GLP-2” means human glucagon like peptide-2 and sequence variants thereof having at least a portion of the biological activity of native GLP-2. More particularly, GLP-2 is a 33 amino acid peptide, co-secreted along with GLP-1 from intestinal endocrine cells in the small and large intestine.

III) Glucose Regulating Peptide Fusion Protein Compositions

The present invention relates in part to fusion protein compositions comprising glucose regulating peptides (GP). In one aspect, the invention provides isolated monomeric fusion proteins of GP comprising the full-length sequence or sequence variants of GP covalently linked to extended recombinant polypeptides (“XTEN” or “XTENs”). As described more fully below, the fusion proteins can optionally include spacer sequences that further comprise cleavage sequences to release the GP from the fusion protein when acted on by a protease, releasing GP from the XTEN sequence(s).

In some cases, the invention provides an isolated fusion protein comprising at least a first biologically active glucose regulating peptide covalently linked to one or more extended recombinant polypeptides (“XTEN”), resulting in a glucose regulating peptide-XTEN fusion protein composition (hereinafter “GPXTEN”). In other cases, the glucose regulating peptide linked to one or more XTEN is inactive or has reduced activity that can optionally include spacer sequences that can further comprise cleavage sequences to release the GP from the fusion protein when acted on by a protease in a more active form.

The term “GPXTEN”, as used herein, is meant to encompass fusion polypeptides that comprise one or more payload regions each comprising a biologically active GP that mediates one or more biological or therapeutic activities associated with a glucose regulating peptide and at least one other region comprising at least a first XTEN polypeptide that serves as a carrier.

The GP of the subject compositions, particularly those disclosed in Table 1, together with their corresponding nucleic acid and amino acid sequences, are well known in the art and descriptions and sequences are available in public databases such as Chemical Abstracts Services Databases (e.g., the CAS Registry), GenBank, The Universal Protein Resource (UniProt) and subscription provided databases such as GenSeq (e.g., Derwent). Polynucleotide sequences may be a wild type polynucleotide sequence encoding a given GP (e.g., either full length or mature), or in some instances the sequence may be a variant of the wild type polynucleotide sequence (e.g., a polynucleotide which encodes the wild type biologically active protein, wherein the DNA sequence of the polynucleotide has been optimized, for example, for expression in a particular species; or a polynucleotide encoding a variant of the wild type protein, such as a site directed mutant or an allelic variant. It is well within the ability of the skilled artisan to use a wild-type or consensus cDNA sequence or a codon-optimized variant of a GP to create GPXTEN constructs contemplated by the invention using methods known in the art and/or in conjunction with the guidance and methods provided herein, and described more fully in the Examples.

The GP for inclusion in the GPXTEN of the invention include any glucose regulating peptide or sequence variant of biologic, therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic interest or function, or that is useful for mediating or preventing or ameliorating a disease, disorder or condition associated with a glucose regulating peptide deficiency or a defect in sensitivity to one or more GP by the subject. Of particular interest are GPXTEN fusion protein compositions for which an increase in a pharmacokinetic parameter, increased solubility, increased stability, or some other enhanced pharmaceutical property compared to native GP is sought, or for which increasing the terminal half-life would improve efficacy, safety, or result in reduce dosing frequency and/or improve patient compliance. Thus, the GPXTEN fusion protein compositions are prepared with various objectives in mind, including improving the therapeutic efficacy of the bioactive GP by, for example, increasing the in vivo exposure or the length that the GPXTEN remains within the therapeutic window when administered to a subject, compared to a GP not linked to XTEN.

In one embodiment, the GP incorporated into the subject compositions can be a recombinant polypeptide with a sequence corresponding to a protein found in nature. In another embodiment, the GP can be sequence variants, fragments, homologs, and mimetics of a natural sequence that retain at least a portion of the biological activity of the native GP. In some cases, the GP for incorporation into the GPXTEN of the invention can be a sequence that exhibits at least about 80% sequence identity, or alternatively 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or at least about 99%, or 100% sequence identity to a protein sequence selected from the sequences of Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3. In one embodiment, a GPXTEN fusion protein can comprise a single GP molecule linked to an XTEN (as described more fully below). In another embodiment, the GPXTEN can comprise a first GP and a second molecule of the same GP, resulting in a fusion protein comprising the two GP linked to one or more XTEN (for example, two molecules of GLP-1). In another embodiment, the GPXTEN fusion protein can comprise a single GP molecule linked to a first and a second XTEN, with an N- to C-terminus configuration of XTEN-GP-XTEN, in which the GP can be a sequence that exhibits at least about 80% sequence identity, or alternatively 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or at least about 99%, or 100% sequence identity to a sequence selected from the sequences of Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3, and the first and/or the second XTEN can be sequences that exhibits at least about 80% sequence identity, or alternatively 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or at least about 99%, or 100% sequence identity to a sequence selected from the sequence of Table 5.

In general, the GP fusion partner component of the GPXTEN will exhibit a binding specificity to a given target or another desired biological characteristic when used in vivo or when utilized in an in vitro assay. For example, the GPXTEN can be an agonist, having the ability to bind to a cell receptor for a glucose regulating peptide. In one embodiment, the binding of GPXTEN to its receptor can lead to at least a portion of the activation of intercellular signal transduction pathway compared to the corresponding native glucose regulating peptide not linked to XTEN. In one embodiment, the GPXTEN bound to a cell receptor for a glucose regulating peptide can exhibit at least about 1%, or about 5%, or about 10%, or about 15%, or about 20%, or about 25%, or about 30%, or about 40%, or about 50%, or about 60%, or about 70%, or about 80%, or about 90%, or at least about 95% of the activation of intercellular signal transduction pathway compared to native glucose regulating peptide not linked to XTEN.

The subject GPXTEN of the present invention can exhibit an enhancement of one or more pharmacokinetic parameters, which optionally could be enhanced for a biologic effect by release of GP from the fusion protein by cleavage of a spacer sequence. The GPXTEN with enhanced pharmacokinetic parameters would permit less frequent dosing or an enhanced pharmacologic effect, such as but not limited to maintaining the biologically active GPXTEN within the therapeutic window between the minimum effective dose or blood concentration (C_(min)) and the maximum tolerated dose or blood concentration (C_(max)). In such cases, the linking of the GP to a fusion protein comprising a select XTEN sequence(s) can result in an improvement in these properties, making them more useful as therapeutic or preventive agents compared to GP not linked to XTEN.

IV) Xtended Recombinant Polypeptides

In one aspect, the invention provides XTEN polypeptide compositions that are useful as a fusion protein partner to which GP is linked, resulting in a GPXTEN fusion protein. XTEN are generally extended length polypeptides with non-naturally occurring, substantially non-repetitive sequences that are composed mainly of small hydrophilic amino acids, with the sequence having a low degree or no secondary or tertiary structure under physiologic conditions.

XTENs can have utility as a fusion protein partners partner in that they can serve as a “carrier”, conferring certain desirable pharmacokinetic, physicochemical and pharmaceutical properties when linked to a GP protein to a create a fusion protein. Such desirable properties include but are not limited to enhanced pharmacokinetic parameters and solubility characteristics of the compositions, amongst other properties described below. Such fusion protein compositions have utility to treat certain glucose regulating peptide-related diseases, disorders or conditions, as described herein. As used herein, “XTEN” specifically excludes antibodies or antibody fragments such as single-chain antibodies or Fc fragments of a light chain or a heavy chain.

In some embodiments, XTEN are long polypeptides having greater than about 100 to about 3000 amino acid residues, preferably greater than 400 to about 3000 residues when used as a carrier or cumulatively when more than one XTEN unit is used in a single fusion protein. In other cases, when used as a linker between fusion protein components or where an increase in half-life of the fusion protein is not needed but where an increase in solubility or other physicochemical property for the GP fusion partner component is desired, an XTEN sequence shorter than 100 amino acid residues, such as about 96, or about 84, or about 72, or about 60, or about 48, or about 36 amino acid residues may be incorporated into a fusion protein composition with the GP to effect the property.

The selection criteria for the XTEN to be linked to the biologically active proteins used to create the inventive fusion proteins compositions generally relate to attributes of physical/chemical properties and conformational structure of the XTEN that can be, in turn, used to confer enhanced pharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic properties to the fusion protein compositions. The XTEN of the present invention may exhibit one or more of the following advantageous properties: conformational flexibility, enhanced aqueous solubility, high degree of protease resistance, low immunogenicity, low binding to mammalian receptors, and increased hydrodynamic (or Stokes) radii; properties that can make them particularly useful as fusion protein partners. Non-limiting examples of the properties of the fusion proteins comprising GP that may be enhanced by XTEN include increases in the overall solubility and/or metabolic stability, reduced susceptibility to proteolysis, reduced immunogenicity, reduced rate of absorption when administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly, and enhanced pharmacokinetic properties such as longer terminal half-life and increased area under the curve (AUC), slower absorption after subcutaneous or intramuscular injection compared to GP not linked to XTEN and administered by a similar route such that the C_(max) is lower, which may, in turn, result in reductions in adverse effects of the GP that, collectively with increased half-life and/or AUC, can result in an increased period of time that a fusion protein of a GPXTEN composition administered to a subject retains therapeutic activity.

A variety of methods and assays are known in the art for determining the physicaUchemical properties of proteins such as the compositions comprising the inventive XTEN; properties such as solubility, secondary or tertiary structure, solubility, protein aggregation, melting properties, contamination and water content. Such methods include analytical centrifugation, EPR, HPLC-ion exchange, HPLC-size exclusion, HPLC-reverse phase, light scattering, capillary electrophoresis, circular dichroism, differential scanning calorimetry, fluorescence, HPLC-ion exchange, HPLC-size exclusion, IR, NMR, Raman spectroscopy, refractometry, and UVNisible spectroscopy. Additional methods are disclosed in Arnau et al., Prot Expr and Purif (2006) 48, 1-13. Application of these methods to the invention would be within the grasp of a person skilled in the art.

Typically, XTEN are designed to behave like denatured peptide sequences under physiological conditions, despite the extended length of the polymer. Denatured describes the state of a peptide in solution that is characterized by a large conformational freedom of the peptide backbone. Most peptides and proteins adopt a denatured conformation in the presence of high concentrations of denaturants or at elevated temperature. Peptides in denatured conformation have, for example, characteristic circular dichroism (CD) spectra and are characterized by a lack of long-range interactions as determined by NMR. “Denatured conformation” and “unstructured conformation” are used synonymously herein. In some cases, the invention provides XTEN sequences that, under physiologic conditions, can resemble denatured sequences largely devoid in secondary structure. In other cases, the XTEN sequences can be substantially devoid of secondary structure under physiologic conditions. “Largely devoid,” as used in this context, means that less than 50% of the XTEN amino acid residues of the XTEN sequence contribute to secondary structure as measured or determined by the means described herein. “Substantially devoid,” as used in this context, means that at least about 60%, or about 70%, or about 80%, or about 90%, or about 95%, or at least about 99% of the XTEN amino acid residues of the XTEN sequence do not contribute to secondary structure, as measured or determined by the means described herein.

A variety of methods have been established in the art to discern the presence or absence of secondary and tertiary structures in a given polypeptide. In particular, secondary structure can be measured spectrophotometrically, e.g., by circular dichroism spectroscopy in the “far-UV” spectral region (190-250 nm). Secondary structure elements, such as alpha-helix and beta-sheet, each give rise to a characteristic shape and magnitude of CD spectra. Secondary structure can also be predicted for a polypeptide sequence via certain computer programs or algorithms, such as the well-known Chou-Fasman algorithm (Chou, P. Y., et al. (1974) Biochemistry, 13: 222-45) and the Garnier-Osguthorpe-Robson (“GOR”) algorithm (Garnier J, Gibrat J F, Robson B. (1996), GOR method for predicting protein secondary structure from amino acid sequence. Methods Enzymol 266:540-553), as described in US Patent Application Publication No. 20030228309A1. For a given sequence, the algorithms can predict whether there exists some or no secondary structure at all, expressed as the total and/or percentage of residues of the sequence that form, for example, alpha-helices or beta-sheets or the percentage of residues of the sequence predicted to result in random coil formation (which lacks secondary structure).

In some cases, the XTEN sequences used in the inventive fusion protein compositions can have an alpha-helix percentage ranging from 0% to less than about 5% as determined by a Chou-Fasman algorithm. In other cases, the XTEN sequences of the fusion protein compositions can have a beta-sheet percentage ranging from 0% to less than about 5% as determined by a Chou-Fasman algorithm. In some cases, the XTEN sequences of the fusion protein compositions can have an alpha-helix percentage ranging from 0% to less than about 5% and a beta-sheet percentage ranging from 0% to less than about 5% as determined by a Chou-Fasman algorithm. In preferred embodiments, the XTEN sequences of the fusion protein compositions will have an alpha-helix percentage less than about 2% and a beta-sheet percentage less than about 2%. In other cases, the XTEN sequences of the fusion protein compositions can have a high degree of random coil percentage, as determined by a GOR algorithm. In some embodiments, an XTEN sequence can have at least about 80%, or at least about 90%, or at least about 91%, or at least about 92%, or at least about 93%, or at least about 94%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 96%, or at least about 97%, or at least about 98%, and most preferably at least about 99% random coil, as determined by a GOR algorithm.

1. Non-Repetitive Sequences

XTEN sequences of the subject compositions can be substantially non-repetitive. In general, repetitive amino acid sequences have a tendency to aggregate or form higher order structures, as exemplified by natural repetitive sequences such as collagens and leucine zippers, or form contacts resulting in crystalline or pseudocrystaline structures. In contrast, the low tendency of non-repetitive sequences to aggregate enables the design of long-sequence XTENs with a relatively low frequency of charged amino acids that would be likely to aggregate if the sequences were otherwise repetitive. Typically, the GPXTEN fusion proteins comprise XTEN sequences of greater than about 100 to about 3000 amino acid residues, preferably greater than 400 to about 3000 cumulative residues, wherein the sequences are substantially non-repetitive. In one embodiment, the XTEN sequences can have greater than about 100 to about 3000 amino acid residues in which no three contiguous amino acids in the sequence are identical amino acid types unless the amino acid is serine, in which case no more than three contiguous amino acids are serine residues. In the foregoing embodiment, the XTEN sequence would be substantially non-repetitive.

The degree of repetitiveness of a polypeptide or a gene can be measured by computer programs or algorithms or by other means known in the art. Repetitiveness in a polypeptide sequence can, for example, be assessed by determining the number of times shorter sequences of a given length occur within the polypeptide. For example, a polypeptide of 200 amino acid residues has 192 overlapping 9-amino acid sequences (or 9-mer “frames”) and 198 3-mer frames, but the number of unique 9-mer or 3-mer sequences will depend on the amount of repetitiveness within the sequence. A score can be generated (hereinafter “subsequence score”) that is reflective of the degree of repetitiveness of the subsequences in the overall polypeptide sequence. In the context of the present invention, “subsequence score” means the sum of occurrences of each unique 3-mer frame across a 200 consecutive amino acid sequence of the polypeptide divided by the absolute number of unique 3-mer subsequences within the 200 amino acid sequence. Examples of such subsequence scores derived from the first 200 amino acids of repetitive and non-repetitive polypeptides are presented in Example 40. In some embodiments, the present invention provides GPXTEN each comprising one or more XTEN in which the XTEN can have a subsequence score less than 12, more preferably less than 10, more preferably less than 9, more preferably less than 8, more preferably less than 7, more preferably less than 6, and most preferably less than 5 when derived from a segment of 200 contiguous amino acid residues. In the embodiments hereinabove described in this paragraph, an XTEN with a subsequence score less than about 10 (i.e., 9, 8, 7, etc.) would be “substantially non-repetitive.”

The non-repetitive characteristic of XTEN can impart to fusion proteins with GP a greater degree of solubility and less tendency to aggregate compared to polypeptides having repetitive sequences. These properties can facilitate the formulation of XTEN-comprising pharmaceutical preparations containing extremely high drug concentrations, in some cases exceeding 100 mg/ml.

Furthermore, the XTEN polypeptide sequences of the embodiments are designed to have a low degree of internal repetitiveness in order to reduce or substantially eliminate immunogenicity when administered to a mammal. Polypeptide sequences composed of short, repeated motifs largely limited to three amino acids, such as glycine, serine and glutamate, may result in relatively high antibody titers when administered to a mammal despite the absence of predicted T-cell epitopes in these sequences. This may be caused by the repetitive nature of polypeptides, as it has been shown that immunogens with repeated epitopes, including protein aggregates, cross-linked immunogens, and repetitive carbohydrates are highly immunogenic and can, for example, result in the cross-linking of B-cell receptors causing B-cell activation. (Johansson, J., et al. (2007) Vaccine, 25:1676-82; Yankai, Z., et al. (2006) Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 345:1365-71; Hsu, C. T., et al. (2000) Cancer Res, 60:3701-5); Bachmann M F, et al. Eur J Immunol. (1995) 25(12):3445-3451).

2. Exemplary Sequence Motifs

The present invention encompasses XTEN that can comprise multiple units of shorter sequences, or motifs, in which the amino acid sequences of the motifs are non-repetitive. In designing XTEN sequences, it was discovered that the non-repetitive criterion may be met despite the use of a “building block” approach using a library of sequence motifs that are multimerized to create the XTEN sequences. Thus, while an XTEN sequence may consist of multiple units of as few as four different types of sequence motifs, because the motifs themselves generally consist of non-repetitive amino acid sequences, the overall XTEN sequence is rendered substantially non-repetitive.

In one embodiment, XTEN can have a non-repetitive sequence of greater than about 100 to about 3000 amino acid residues, or greater than 400 to about 3000 residues, wherein at least about 80%, or at least about 85%, or at least about 90%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 97%, or about 100% of the XTEN sequence consists of non-overlapping sequence motifs, wherein each of the motifs has about 9 to 36 amino acid residues. In other embodiments, at least about 80%, or at least about 85%, or at least about 90%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 97%, or about 100% of the XTEN sequence consists of non-overlapping sequence motifs wherein each of the motifs has 9 to 14 amino acid residues. In still other embodiments, at least about 80%, or at least about 85%, or at least about 90%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 97%, or about 100% of the XTEN sequence component consists of non-overlapping sequence motifs wherein each of the motifs has 12 amino acid residues. In these embodiments, it is preferred that the sequence motifs be composed mainly of small hydrophilic amino acids, such that the overall sequence has an unstructured, flexible characteristic. Examples of amino acids that can be included in XTEN, are, e.g., arginine, lysine, threonine, alanine, asparagine, glutamine, aspartate, glutamate, serine, and glycine. As a result of testing variables such as codon optimization, assembly polynucleotides encoding sequence motifs, expression of protein, charge distribution and solubility of expressed protein, and secondary and tertiary structure, it was discovered that XTEN compositions with enhanced characteristics mainly include glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P) residues wherein the sequences are designed to be substantially non-repetitive. In a preferred embodiment, XTEN sequences have predominately four to six types of amino acids selected from glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) or proline (P) that are arranged in a substantially non-repetitive sequence that is greater than about 100 to about 3000 amino acid residues, or greater than 400 to about 3000 residues in length. In some embodiments, XTEN can have sequences of greater than about 100 to about 3000 amino acid residues, or greater than 400 to about 3000 residues, wherein at least about 80% of the sequence consists of non-overlapping sequence motifs wherein each of the motifs has 9 to 36 amino acid residues wherein each of the motifs consists of 4 to 6 types of amino acids selected from glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P), and wherein the content of any one amino acid type in the full-length XTEN does not exceed 30%. In other embodiments, at least about 90% of the XTEN sequence consists of non-overlapping sequence motifs wherein each of the motifs has 9 to 36 amino acid residues wherein the motifs consist of 4 to 6 types of amino acids selected from glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P), and wherein the content of any one amino acid type in the full-length XTEN does not exceed 30%. In other embodiments, at least about 90% of the XTEN sequence consists of non-overlapping sequence motifs wherein each of the motifs has 12 amino acid residues consisting of 4 to 6 types of amino acids selected from glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P), and wherein the content of any one amino acid type in the full-length XTEN does not exceed 30%. In yet other embodiments, at least about 90%, or about 91%, or about 92%, or about 93%, or about 94%, or about 95%, or about 96%, or about 97%, or about 98%, or about 99%, to about 100% of the XTEN sequence consists of non-overlapping sequence motifs wherein each of the motifs has 12 amino acid residues consisting of glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P), and wherein the content of any one amino acid type in the full-length XTEN does not exceed 30%.

In still other embodiments, XTENs comprise non-repetitive sequences of greater than about 100 to about 3000 amino acid residues, or greater than 400 to about 3000 amino acid residues wherein at least about 80%, or at least about 90%, or about 91%, or about 92%, or about 93%, or about 94%, or about 95%, or about 96%, or about 97%, or about 98%, or about 99% of the sequence consists of non-overlapping sequence motifs of 9 to 14 amino acid residues wherein the motifs consist of 4 to 6 types of amino acids selected from glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P), and wherein the sequence of any two contiguous amino acid residues in any one motif is not repeated more than twice in the sequence motif. In other embodiments, at least about 90%, or about 91%, or about 92%, or about 93%, or about 94%, or about 95%, or about 96%, or about 97%, or about 98%, or about 99% of an XTEN sequence consists of non-overlapping sequence motifs of 12 amino acid residues wherein the motifs consist of 4 to 6 types of amino acids selected from glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (1), glutamate (E) and proline (P), and wherein the sequence of any two contiguous amino acid residues in any one sequence motif is not repeated more than twice in the sequence motif. In other embodiments, at least about 90%, or about 91%, or about 92%, or about 93%, or about 94%, or about 95%, or about 96%, or about 97%, or about 98%, or about 99% of an XTEN sequence consists of non-overlapping sequence motifs of 12 amino acid residues wherein the motifs consist of glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P), and wherein the sequence of any two contiguous amino acid residues in any one sequence motif is not repeated more than twice in the sequence motif. In yet other embodiments, XTENs consist of 12 amino acid sequence motifs wherein the amino acids are selected from glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P), and wherein the sequence of any two contiguous amino acid residues in any one sequence motif is not repeated more than twice in the sequence motif, and wherein the content of any one amino acid type in the full-length XTEN does not exceed 30%. In the foregoing embodiments hereinabove described in this paragraph, the XTEN sequences would be substantially non-repetitive.

In some cases, the invention provides compositions comprising non-repetitive XTEN sequence(s) of greater than about 100 to about 3000 amino acid residues, or of cumulatively greater than 400 to about 3000 residues, wherein at least about 80%, or at least about 90%, or about 91%, or about 92%, or about 93%, or about 94%, or about 95%, or about 96%, or about 97%, or about 98%, or about 99% to about 100% of the sequence consists of multiple units of two or more non-overlapping sequence motifs selected from the amino acid sequences of Table 4. In some cases, the XTEN comprises non-overlapping sequence motifs in which about 80%, or at least about 90%, or about 91%, or about 92%, or about 93%, or about 94%, or about 95%, or about 96%, or about 97%, or about 98%, or about 99% to about 100% of the sequence consists of two or more non-overlapping sequences selected from a single motif family of Table 4, resulting in a “family” sequence in which the overall sequence remains substantially non-repetitive. Accordingly, in these embodiments, an XTEN sequence can comprise multiple units of non-overlapping sequence motifs of the AD motif family, or the AE motif family, or the AF motif family, or the AG motif family, or the AM motif family, or the AQ motif family, or the BC family, or the BD family of sequences of Table 4. In other cases, the XTEN comprises motif sequences from two or more of the motif families of Table 4.

TABLE 4 XTEN Sequence Motifs of 12 Amino Acids and Motif Families Motif Family* MOTIF SEQUENCE SEQ ID NO: AD GESPGGSSGSES 157 AD GSEGSSGPGESS 158 AD GSSESGSSEGGP 159 AD GSGGEPSESGSS 160 AE, AM GSPAGSPTSTEE 161 AE, AM, AQ GSEPATSGSETP 162 AE, AM, AQ GTSESATPESGP 163 AE, AM, AQ GTSTEPSEGSAP 164 AF, AM GSTSESPSGTAP 165 AF, AM GTSTPESGSASP 166 AF, AM GTSPSGESSTAP 167 AF, AM GSTSSTAESPGP 168 AG, AM GTPGSGTASSSP 169 AG, AM GSSTPSGATGSP 170 AG, AM GSSPSASTGTGP 171 AG, AM GASPGTSSTGSP 172 AQ GEPAGSPTSTSE 173 AQ GTGEPSSTPASE 174 AQ GSGPSTESAPTE 175 AQ GSETPSGPSETA 176 AQ GPSETSTSEPGA 177 AQ GSPSEPTEGTSA 178 BC GSGASEPTSTEP 179 BC GSEPATSGTEPS 180 BC GTSEPSTSEPGA 181 BC GTSTEPSEPGSA 182 BD GSTAGSETSTEA 183 BD GSETATSGSETA 184 BD GTSESATSESGA 185 BD GTSTEASEGSAS 186 *Denotes individual motif sequences that, when used together in various permutations, results in a “family sequence”

In other cases, GPXTEN composition can comprise one or more non-repetitive XTEN sequences of greater than about 100 to about 3000 amino acid residues, or cumulatively greater than 400 to about 3000 residues, wherein at least about 80%, or at least about 90%, or about 91%, or about 92%, or about 93%, or about 94%, or about 95%, or about 96%, or about 97%, or about 98%, or about 99% to about 100% of the sequence consists of non-overlapping 36 amino acid sequence motifs selected from one or more of the polypeptide sequences of Tables 10-13.

In those embodiments wherein the XTEN component of the GPXTEN fusion protein has less than 100% of its amino acids consisting of four to six amino acid selected from glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P), or less than 100% of the sequence consisting of the sequence motifs of Table 4, or less than 100% sequence identity with an XTEN from Table 5, the other amino acid residues can be selected from any other of the 14 natural L-amino acids, but are preferentially selected from hydrophilic amino acids such that the XTEN sequence contains at least about 90%, or at least about 91%, or at least about 92%, or at least about 93%, or at least about 94%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 96%, or at least about 97%, or at least about 98%, or at least about 99% hydrophilic amino acids. The XTEN amino acids that are not glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P) are interspersed throughout the XTEN sequence, are located within or between the sequence motifs, or are concentrated in one or more short stretches of the XTEN sequence. In such cases where the XTEN component of the GPXTEN comprises amino acids other than glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P), it is preferred that the amino acids not be hydrophobic residues and should not substantially confer secondary structure of the XTEN component. Hydrophobic residues that are less favored in construction of XTEN include tryptophan, phenylalanine, tyrosine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, and methionine. Additionally, one can design the XTEN sequences to contain few (e.g. less than 5%) or none of the following amino acids: cysteine (to avoid disulfide formation and oxidation), methionine (to avoid oxidation), asparagine and glutamine (to avoid desamidation). Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the foregoing, the XTEN component of the GPXTEN fusion protein comprising other amino acids in addition to glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P) would have a sequence with less than 5% of the residues contributing to alpha-helices and beta-sheets as measured by the Chou-Fasman algorithm and would have at least 90%, or at least about 95% or more random coil formation as measured by the GOR algorithm.

3. Length of Sequence

In another aspect of the present invention, the invention encompasses GPXTEN compositions comprising carriers of XTEN polypeptides with extended length sequences. The present invention makes use of the discovery that increasing the length of non-repetitive, unstructured polypeptides enhances the unstructured nature of the XTENs and correspondingly enhances the biological and pharmacokinetic properties of fusion proteins comprising the XTEN carrier. As described more fully in the Examples, proportional increases in the length of the XTEN, even if created by a fixed repeat order of single family sequence motifs (e.g., the four AE motifs of Table 4), can result in a sequence with a higher percentage of random coil formation, as determined by GOR algorithm, compared to shorter XTEN lengths. In general, increasing the length of the unstructured polypeptide fusion partner can, as described in the Examples, results in a fusion protein with a disproportional increase in terminal half-life compared to fusion proteins with unstructured polypeptide partners with shorter sequence lengths.

Non-limiting examples of XTEN contemplated for inclusion in the GPXTEN of the invention are presented in Table 5. In one embodiment, the invention provides GPXTEN compositions wherein the XTEN sequence length of the fusion protein(s) is greater than about 100 to about 3000 amino acid residues, and in some cases is greater than 400 to about 3000 amino acid residues, wherein the XTEN confers enhanced pharmacokinetic properties on the GPXTEN in comparison to GP not linked to XTEN. In some cases, the XTEN sequences of the GPXTEN compositions of the present invention can be about 100, or about 144, or about 288, or about 401, or about 500, or about 600, or about 700, or about 800, or about 900, or about 1000, or about 1500, or about 2000, or about 2500 or up to about 3000 amino acid residues in length. In other cases, the XTEN sequences can be about 100 to 150, about 150 to 250, about 250 to 400, 401 to about 500, about 500 to 900, about 900 to 1500, about 1500 to 2000, or about 2000 to about 3000 amino acid residues in length. In one embodiment, the GPXTEN can comprise an XTEN sequence wherein the sequence exhibits at least about 80% sequence identity, or alternatively 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity to a XTEN selected from Table 5. In some cases, the XTEN sequence is designed for optimized expression as the N-terminal component of the GPXTEN by inclusion of encoding nucleotides for an optimized N-terminal leader sequence (NTS) in the XTEN portion of the gene encoding the fusion protein. In one embodiment of the foregoing, the N-terminal XTEN sequence of the expressed GPXTEN has at least 90% sequence identity to the sequence of AE48 or AM48, AE624, or AE912 or AM923. In another embodiment of the foregoing, the XTEN has the N-terminal residues described in Examples 14-17.

In other cases, the GPXTEN fusion protein can comprise a first and a second XTEN sequence, wherein the cumulative total of the residues in the XTEN sequences is greater than about 400 to about 3000 amino acid residues. In embodiments of the foregoing, the GPXTEN fusion protein can comprise a first and a second XTEN sequence wherein the sequences each exhibit at least about 80% sequence identity, or alternatively 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity to at least a first or additionally a second XTEN selected from Table 5.

As described more fully below, the invention provides methods in which the GPXTEN is designed by selecting the length of the XTEN to confer a target half-life on a fusion protein administered to a subject. In general, XTEN lengths longer that about cumulative 400 residues incorporated into the GPXTEN compositions result in longer half-life compared to shorter cumulative lengths; e.g., shorter than about 280 residues. However, in another embodiment, GPXTEN fusion proteins can be designed to comprise XTEN with a longer sequence length that is selected to additionally confer slower rates of systemic absorption after subcutaneous or intramuscular administration to a subject. In such cases, the C_(max) is reduced in comparison to a comparable dose of a GP not linked to XTEN, thereby contributing to the ability to keep the GPXTEN within the therapeutic window for the composition. Thus, the XTEN confers the property of a depot to the administered GPXTEN, in addition to the other physical/chemical properties described herein.

TABLE 5 XTEN Polypeptides XTEN Name Amino Acid Sequence SEQ ID NO: AE48 MAEPAGSPTSTEEGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGS 187 AM48 MAEPAGSPTSTEEGASPGTSSTGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGS 188 AE144 GSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPAT 189 SGSETPGSEPATSGSETPGSEPATSGSETPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETP GTSTEPSEGSAP AF144 GTSTPESGSASPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSST 190 AESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAP GTSPSGESSTAP AE288 GTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEP 191 SEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEE GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGSEPAT SGSETPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETP GTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAP AF504 GASPGTSSTGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGSSPSASTGTGPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSXPSA 192 STGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGASPGTSSTGSP GASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPS GATGSPGSXPSASTGTGPGSSPSASTGTGPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSP GASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGT SSTGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGTPGSGTASSSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSP GSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPS GATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGASPGTSSTGSP AF540 GSTSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPE 193 SGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAP GSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSES PSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGP GTSTPESGSASPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSES PSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPESGSASPGTSTPESGSASP GSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPE SGSASPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPESGSASP GSTSESPSGTAP AD576 GSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGSSESGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGSSESG 194 SSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGESPGGSSGSESGSEGSSGPGESSGSSESGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGP GSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGESPGGSSGSESGESPGGSSGSESGSGGEPSESGSSGSSESG SSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGSGGEPSESGSSGSEGSSGPGESSGESPGGSSGSESGSGGEPSESGSS GSGGEPSESGSSGSGGEPSESGSSGSSESGSSEGGPGESPGGSSGSESGESPGGSSGSESGESPGG SSGSESGESPGGSSGSESGESPGGSSGSESGSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGSEGSSGPGESS GSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGESPGGSSGSESGESPGG SSGSESGSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGSGGEPSESGSS GESPGGSSGSESGSEGSSGPGESSGSSESGSSEGGPGSEGSSGPGESS AE576 GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEP 195 SEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGP GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESA TPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPOSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPG TSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESAT PESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPG TSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESAT PESGPGSEPATSGSETPUSESATPESGPOSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATP ESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGS AF576 TSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPESG  196 SASPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGS TSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPS GTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGT STPESGSASPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPS GTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPESGSASPGTSTPESGSASPGS TSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESG SASPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPESGSASPGS TSESPSGTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPESGSASPGTSTPESGSASP AE624 MAEPAGSPTSTEEGTPGSGTASSSPGSS1TSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSES 197 ATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPOSESATPESGP GSEPATSGSETPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEP SEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAP GTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSESATPESGPGTSESAT PESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPG TSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSP TSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPG TSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSP TSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAP AD836 GSSESGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGESPGGSSGSESGSGGEPSESGSSGESPGGSSGSESGESPGG 198 SSGSESGSSESGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGESPGGSSGSESGESPGGSSGSES GESPGGSSGSESGSSESGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGSSESG SSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGESPGGSSGSESGESPGGSSGSESGSGGEPSESGSS GSEGSSGPGESSGSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGSEGSSGPGESSGSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEP SESGSSGESPGGSSGSESGSGGEPSESGSSGSGGEPSESGSSGSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSS GSGGEPSESGSSGSEGSSGPGESSGESPGGSSGSESGSEGSSGPGESSGSEGSSGPGESSGSGGEP SESGSSGSSESGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGESPGGSSGSESGSGGEPSESGSSGSEGSSGPGESS GESPGGSSGSESGSEGSSGPGSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGSEGSSGPGESSGSEGSSGPGE SSGSEGSSGPGESSGSGGEPSESGSSGSGGEPSESGSSGESPGGSSGSESGESPGGSSGSESGSGG EPSESGSSGSEGSSGPGESSGESPGGSSGSESGSSESGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEG GPGSGGEPSESGSSGSSESGSSEGGPGESPGGSSGSESGSGGEPSESGSSGSSESGSSEGGPGESP GGSSGSESGSGGEPSESGSSGESPGGSSGSESGSGGEPSESGSS AE864 GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEP 199 SEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGP GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESA TPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAP GTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESA TPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAP GTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESA TPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEE GSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPAT SGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEE GTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEP SEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGSEPATSGSETP GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEP SEGSAP AF864 GSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGTSTPE 200 SGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAP GTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPE SGSASPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSSTAESPGP GTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSTPE SGSASPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAP GSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGPXXXGASASGAPSTXXXXSESPSGTAPGSTSESP SGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPG TSPSGESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESP SGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGTSTPESGSASPG STSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGE SSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSTPESGSASPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAPG TSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGSSPSASTGTGPGSSTPSG ATGSPGSSTPSGATGSP AG864 GASPGTSSTGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGSSPSASTGTGPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSA 201 STGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGASPGTSSTGSP GASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPS GATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGSSPSASTGTGPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSP GASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGT SSTGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGTPGSGTASSSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSP GSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPS GATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSP GASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPS GATGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSP GSSPSASTGTGPGSSPSASTGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSA STGTGPGSSPSASTGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSASTGTGP GASPGTSSTGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGT SSTGSP AM875 GTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSES 202 PSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGTSTPESGSASPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGP GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGS PTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAP GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSSTPS GATGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETP GSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGASASGAPSTGGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSP TSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGTPGSGTASSSPG SSTPSGATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGSTSSTA ESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGSEPATSGSETPGSEPATSGSETPGTSTEPSEGSAPG STSSTAESPGPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPS EGSAPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPG GSPAGSPTSTEEGSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGASPGTSSTSPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPS EGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAP AE912 MAEPAGSPTSTEEGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSES 203 ATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESG PGSEPATSGSETPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTE PSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSA PGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSES ATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSA PGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAG SPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSET PGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAG SPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESG PGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGSEPA TSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESG PGTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTE PSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAP Am923 MAEPAGSPTSTEEGASPGTSSTGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPA 204 TSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTA PGTSTPESGSASPGTSTPESGSASPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTE PSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSA PGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSES ATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSSTPSGATGSPGTPGSGTASSS PGSSTPSGATGSPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAG SPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGASASGAPSTGGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEE GSTSSTAESPGPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSA STGTGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGP GTSPSGESSTAPGSEPATSGSETPGSEPATSGSETPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPE SGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSSTPSGATGSP GSSPSASTGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSSTPS GATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAP AM1318 GTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSES 205 PSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGTSTPESGSASPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGP GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGS PTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAP GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSSTPS GATGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETP GSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGPEPTGPAPSGGSEPATSGSETPGTSESAT PESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPG SPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESP SGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPG SEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPS EGSAPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEG TSTEPSEGSAPGSSPSASTGTGPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSG ATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASASGAPSTGGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGT SESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSSPSASTGTGPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSS TGSPGTSTPESGSASPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGT STEPSEGSAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATP ESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGSSTPSGATGSPGA SPGTSSTGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGSSTPSGA TGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAP BC864 GTSTEPSEPGSAGTSTEPSEPGSAGSEPATSGTEPSGSGASEPTSTEPGSEPATSGTEPSGSEPAT 206 SGTEPSGSEPATSGTEPSGSGASEPTSTEPGTSTEPSEPGSAGSEPATSGTEPSGTSTEPSEPGSA GSEPATSGTEPSGSEPATSGTEPSGTSTEPSEPGSAGTSTEPSEPGSAGSEPATSGTEPSGSEPAT SGTEPSGTSEPSTSEPGAGSGASEPTSTEPGTSEPSTSEPGAGSEPATSGTEPSGSEPATSGTEPS GTSTEPSEPGSAGTSTEPSEPGSAGSGASEPTSTEPGSEPATSGTEPSGSEPATSGTEPSGSEPAT SGTEPSGSEPATSGTEPSGTSTEPSEPGSAGSEPATSGTEPSGSGASEPTSTEPGTSTEPSEPGSA GSEPATSGTEPSGSGASEPTSTEPGTSTEPSEPGSAGSGASEPTSTEPGSEPATSGTEPSGSGASE PTSTEPGSEPATSGTEPSGSGASEPTSTEPGTSTEPSEPGSAGSEPATSGTEPSGSGASEPTSTEP GTSTEPSEPGSAGSEPATSGTEPSGTSTEPSEPGSAGSEPATSGTEPSGTSTEPSEPGSAGTSTEP SEPGSAGTSTEPSEPGSAGTSTEPSEPGSAGTSTEPSEPGSAGTSTEPSEPGSAGTSEPSTSEPGA GSGASEPTSTEPGTSTEPSEPGSAGTSTEPSEPGSAGTSTEPSEPGSAGSEPATSGTEPSGSGASE PTSTEPGSEPATSGTEPSGSEPATSGTEPSGSEPATSGTEPSGSEPATSGTEPSGTSEPSTSEPGA GSEPATSGTEPSGSGASEPTSTEPGTSTEPSEPGSAGSEPATSGTEPSGSGASEPTSTEPGTSTEP SEPGSA BD864 GSETATSGSETAGTSESATSESGAGSTAGSETSTEAGTSESATSESGAGSETATSGSETAGSETAT 207 SGSETAGTSTEASEGSASGTSTEASEGSASGTSESATSESGAGSETATSGSETAGTSTEASEGSAS GSTAGSETSTEAGTSESATSESGAGTSESATSESGAGSETATSGSETAGTSESATSESGAGTSTEA SEGSASGSETATSGSETAGSETATSGSETAGTSTEASEGSASGSTAGSETSTEAGTSESATSESGA GTSTEASEGSASGSETATSGSETAGSTAGSETSTEAGSTAGSETSTEAGSETATSGSETAGTSESA TSESGAGTSESATSESGAGSETATSGSETAGTSESATSESGAGTSESATSESGAGSETATSGSETA GSETATSGSETAGTSTEASEGSASGSTAGSETSTEAGSETATSGSETAGTSESATSESGAGSTAGS ETSTEAGSTAGSETSTEAGSTAGSETSTEAGTSTEASEGSASGSTAGSETSTEAGSTAGSETSTEA GTSTEASEGSASGSTAGSETSTEAGSETATSGSETAGTSTEASEGSASGTSESATSESGAGSETAT SGSETAGTSESATSESGAGTSESATSESGAGSETATSGSETAGTSESATSESGAGSETATSGSETA GTSTEASEGSASGTSTEASEGSASGSTAGSETSTEAGSTAGSETSTEAGSETATSGSETAGTSESA TSESGAGTSESATSESGAGSETATSGSETAGSETATSGSETAGSETATSGSETAGTSTEASEGSAS GTSESATSESGAGSETATSGSETAGSETATSGSETAGTSESATSESGAGTSESATSESGAGSETAT SGSETA

4. XTEN Segments

In one embodiment, the invention provides an isolated GPXTEN fusion protein wherein the cumulative length of the XTEN component is greater than about 100 to about 3000 amino acid residues containing at least one polypeptide sequence segment selected from Tables 5, 10, 11, 12, and 13 and wherein at least about 90%, or at least about 91%, or at least about 92%, or at least about 93%, or at least about 94%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 96%, or at least about 97%, or at least about 98% or more of the remainder of the XTEN sequence consists of hydrophilic amino acids and less than about 2% of the remainder of the XTEN by and large contains hydrophobic, aromatic or cysteine amino acids. In the foregoing embodiment, the XTEN can contain multiple segments wherein the segments are identical or different. In another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated GPXTEN fusion protein wherein the cumulative length of the XTEN component is greater than about 100 to about 3000 amino acid residues and comprises at least one sequence segment of at least about 100 to about 923, or at least about 100 to about 875, or at least about 100 to about 576, or at least about 100 to about 288, or at least about 100 to about 144 amino acid residues wherein the sequence segment(s) consists of at least three different types of amino acids and the sum of glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P) residues in the sequence segment(s) constitutes at least about 90%, or at least about 91%, or at least about 92%, or at least about 93%, or at least about 94%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 96%, or at least about 97%, or at least about 98%, or at least about 99% of the total amino acid sequence of the sequence segment and at least about 90%, or at least about 91%, or at least about 92%, or at least about 93%, or at least about 94%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 96%, or at least about 97%, or at least about 98% of the remainder of the XTEN sequence(s) consist of hydrophilic amino acids and less than about 2% of the remainder of the XTEN sequence(s) consists of hydrophobic, aromatic or cysteine amino acids. In another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated GPXTEN fusion protein wherein the cumulative length of the XTEN component is greater than about 100 to about 3000 amino acid residues and comprises at least one sequence segment of at least about 200 to about 923, or at least about 200 to about 875, or at least about 200 to about 576, or at least about 200 to about 288 amino acid residues wherein the sequence segment(s) the sum of glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P) residues in the sequence segment(s) constitutes at least about 90%, or at least about 91%, or at least about 92%, or at least about 93%, or at least about 94%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 96%, or at least about 97%, or at least about 98%, or at least about 99% of the total amino acid sequence of the sequence segment and wherein the subsequence score of the segment is less than 12, more preferably less than 10, more preferably less than 9, more preferably less than 8, more preferably less than 7, more preferably less than 6, and most preferably less than 5, and at least about 90%, or at least about 91%, or at least about 92%, or at least about 93%, or at least about 94%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 96%, or at least about 97%, or at least about 98% of the remainder of the XTEN sequence(s) consist of hydrophilic amino acids and less than about 2% of the remainder of the XTEN sequence(s) consists of hydrophobic, aromatic or cysteine amino acids.

5. N-Terminal XTEN Expression-Enhancing Sequences

In some embodiments, the invention provides a short-length XTEN sequence as the N-terminal portion of the GPXTEN fusion protein. The expression of the fusion protein is enhanced in a host cell transformed with a suitable expression vector comprising an optimized N-terminal leader polynucleotide sequence (that encodes the N-terminal XTEN) incorporated into the polynucleotide encoding the binding fusion protein. It has been discovered, as described in Examples 14-17, that a host cell transformed with such an expression vector comprising an optimized N-terminal leader sequence (NTS) in the binding fusion protein gene results in greatly-enhanced expression of the fusion protein compared to the expression of a corresponding fusion protein from a polynucleotide not comprising the NTS, and can obviate the need for incorporation of a non-XTEN leader sequence used to enhance expression. In one embodiment, the invention provides GPXTEN fusion proteins comprising an NTS wherein the expression of the binding fusion protein from the encoding gene in a host cell is enhanced about 50%, or about 75%, or about 100%, or about 150%, or about 200%, or about 400% compared to expression of a GPXTEN fusion protein not comprising the N-terminal XTEN sequence (where the encoding gene lacks the NTS).

In one embodiment, the N-terminal XTEN polypeptide of the GPXTEN comprises a sequence that exhibits at least about 80%, or at least about 90%, or at least about 91%, or at least about 92%, or at least about 93%, or at least about 94%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 96%, or at least about 97%, or at least about 98%, or at least 99%, or exhibits 100% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of AE48 or AM48, the respective sequences of which are as follows:

AE48: (SEQ ID NO: 208) MAEPAGSPTSTEEGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGS AM48: (SEQ ID NO: 209) MAEPAGSPTSTEEGASPGTSSTGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGS

In another embodiment, the short-length N-terminal XTEN can be linked to an XTEN of longer length to form the N-terminal region of the GPXTEN fusion protein, wherein the polynucleotide sequence encoding the short-length N-terminal XTEN confers the property of enhanced expression in the host cell, and wherein the long length of the expressed XTEN contributes to the enhanced properties of the XTEN carrier in the fusion protein, as described above. In the foregoing, the short-length XTEN can be linked to any of the XTEN disclosed herein (e.g., an XTEN of Table 5) and the resulting XTEN, in turn, is linked to the N-terminal of any of the GP disclosed herein (e.g., a GP of Tables 1-3) as a component of the fusion protein. Alternatively, polynucleotides encoding the short-length XTEN (or its complement) is linked to polynucleotides encoding any of the XTEN (or its complement) disclosed herein and the resulting gene encoding the N-terminal XTEN, in turn, is linked to the 5′ end of polynucleotides encoding any of the GP (or to the 3′ end of its complement) disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the N-terminal XTEN polypeptide with long length exhibits at least about 80%, or at least about 90%, or at least about 91%, or at least about 92%, or at least about 93%, or at least about 94%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 96%, or at least about 97%, or at least about 98%, or at least 99%, or exhibits 100% sequence identity to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of the sequences AE624, AE912, and AM923.

In any of the foregoing N-terminal XTEN embodiments described above, the N-terminal XTEN can have from about one to about six additional amino acid residues, preferably selected from GESTPA, to accommodate the restriction endonuclease restriction sites that would be employed to join the nucleotides encoding the N-terminal XTEN to the gene encoding the targeting moiety of the fusion protein. The methods for the generation of the N-terminal sequences and incorporation into the fusion proteins of the invention are described more fully in the Examples.

6. Net Charge

In other embodiments, the XTEN polypeptides have an unstructured characteristic imparted by incorporation of amino acid residues with a net charge and/or reducing the proportion of hydrophobic amino acids in the XTEN sequence. The overall net charge and net charge density is controlled by modifying the content of charged amino acids in the XTEN sequences. In some embodiments, the net charge density of the XTEN of the compositions may be above +0.1 or below −0.1 charges/residue. In other embodiments, the net charge of a XTEN can be about 0%, about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, about 10% about 11%, about 12%, about 13%, about 14%, about 15%, about 16%, about 17%, about 18%, about 19%, or about 20% or more.

Since most tissues and surfaces in a human or animal have a net negative charge, in some embodiments, the XTEN sequences are designed to have a net negative charge to minimize non-specific interactions between the XTEN containing compositions and various surfaces such as blood vessels, healthy tissues, or various receptors. Not to be bound by a particular theory, the XTEN can adopt open conformations due to electrostatic repulsion between individual amino acids of the XTEN polypeptide that individually carry a net negative charge and that are distributed across the sequence of the XTEN polypeptide. Such a distribution of net negative charge in the extended sequence lengths of XTEN can lead to an unstructured conformation that, in turn, can result in an effective increase in hydrodynamic radius. In preferred embodiments, the negative charge is conferred by incorporation of glutamic acid residues. Accordingly, in one embodiment the invention provides XTEN in which the XTEN sequences contain about 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, or even about 30% glutamic acid. Generally, the glutamic residues would be spaced uniformly across the XTEN sequence. In some cases, the XTEN can contain about 10-80, or about 15-60, or about 20-50 glutamic residues per 20 kD of XTEN that can result in an XTEN with charged residues that would have very similar pKa, which can increase the charge homogeneity of the product and sharpen its isoelectric point, enhancing the physicochemical properties of the resulting GPXTEN fusion protein for, example, simplifying purification procedures.

The XTEN of the compositions of the present invention generally have no or a low content of positively charged amino acids. In some embodiments the XTEN may have less than about 10% amino acid residues with a positive charge, or less than about 7%, or less than about 5%, or less than about 2%, or less than about 1% amino acid residues with a positive charge. However, the invention contemplates' constructs where a limited number of amino acids with a positive charge, such as lysine, are incorporated into XTEN to permit conjugation between the epsilon amine of the lysine and a reactive group on a peptide, a linker bridge, or a reactive group on a drug or small molecule to be conjugated to the XTEN backbone. In one embodiment of the foregoing, the XTEN has between about 1 to about 100 lysine residues, or about 1 to about 70 lysine residues, or about 1 to about 50 lysine residues, or about 1 to about 30 lysine residues, or about 1 to about 20 lysine residues, or about 1 to about 10 lysine residues, or about 1 to about 5 lysine residues, or alternatively only a single lysine residue. Using the foregoing lysine-containing XTEN, fusion proteins are constructed that comprises XTEN, a glucose regulating peptide, plus a chemotherapeutic agent useful in the treatment of glucose diseases or disorders, wherein the maximum number of molecules of the agent incorporated into the XTEN component is determined by the numbers of lysines or other amino acids with reactive side chains (e.g., cysteine) incorporated into the XTEN.

In some embodiments, the XTEN sequence comprises charged residues separated by other residues such as serine or glycine, which leads to better expression or purification behavior. Based on the net charge, some XTENs have an isoelectric point (pI) of 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, or even 6.5. In preferred embodiments, the XTEN will have an isoelectric point between 1.5 and 4.5. In these embodiments, the XTEN incorporated into the GPXTEN fusion protein compositions of the present invention carry a net negative charge under physiologic conditions that contribute to the unstructured conformation and reduced binding of the XTEN component to mammalian proteins and tissues.

As hydrophobic amino acids impart structure to a polypeptide, the invention provides that the content of hydrophobic amino acids in the XTEN will typically be less than 5%, or less than 2%, or less than 1% hydrophobic amino acid content. In one embodiment, the amino acid content of methionine and tryptophan in the XTEN component of a GPXTEN fusion protein is typically less than 5%, or less than 2%, and most preferably less than 1%. In another embodiment, the XTEN will have a sequence that has less than 10% amino acid residues with a positive charge, or less than about 7%, or less that about 5%, or less than about 2% amino acid residues with a positive charge, the sum of methionine and tryptophan residues will be less than 2%, and the sum of asparagine and glutamine residues will be less than 10% of the total XTEN sequence.

7. Low Immunogenicity

In another aspect, the invention provides compositions in which the XTEN sequences have a low degree of immunogenicity or are substantially non-immunogenic. Several factors can contribute to the low immunogenicity of XTEN, e.g., the non-repetitive sequence, the unstructured conformation, the high degree of solubility, the low degree or lack of self-aggregation, the low degree or lack of proteolytic sites within the sequence, and the low degree or lack of epitopes in the XTEN sequence.

Conformational epitopes are formed by regions of the protein surface that are composed of multiple discontinuous amino acid sequences of the protein antigen. The precise folding of the protein brings these sequences into a well-defined, stable spatial configurations, or epitopes, that can be recognized as “foreign” by the host humoral immune system, resulting in the production of antibodies to the protein orthe activation of a cell-mediated immune response. In the latter case, the immune response to a protein in an individual is heavily influenced by T-cell epitope recognition that is a function of the peptide binding specificity of that individual's HLA-DR allotype. Engagement of a MHC Class II peptide complex by a cognate T-cell receptor on the surface of the T-cell, together with the cross-binding of certain other co-receptors such as the CD4 molecule, can induce an activated state within the T-cell. Activation leads to the release of cytokines further activating other lymphocytes such as B cells to produce antibodies or activating T killer cells as a full cellular immune response.

The ability of a peptide to bind a given MHC Class II molecule for presentation on the surface of an APC (antigen presenting cell) is dependent on a number of factors; most notably its primary sequence. In one embodiment, a lower degree of immunogenicity is achieved by designing XTEN sequences that resist antigen processing in antigen presenting cells, and/or choosing sequences that do not bind MHC receptors well. The invention provides GPXTEN fusion proteins with substantially non-repetitive XTEN polypeptides designed to reduce binding with MHC II receptors, as well as avoiding formation of epitopes for T-cell receptor or antibody binding, resulting in a low degree of immunogenicity. Avoidance of immunogenicity is, in part, a direct result of the conformational flexibility of XTEN sequences; i.e., the lack of secondary structure due to the selection and order of amino acid residues. For example, of particular interest are sequences having a low tendency to adapt compactly folded conformations in aqueous solution or under physiologic conditions that could result in conformational epitopes. The administration of fusion proteins comprising XTEN, using conventional therapeutic practices and dosing, would generally not result in the formation of neutralizing antibodies to the XTEN sequence, and also reduce the immunogenicity of the GP fusion partner in the GPXTEN compositions.

In one embodiment, the XTEN sequences utilized in the subject fusion proteins can be substantially free of epitopes recognized by human T cells. The elimination of such epitopes for the purpose of generating less immunogenic proteins has been disclosed previously; see for example WO 98/52976, WO 02/079232, and WO 00/3317 which are incorporated by reference herein. Assays for human T cell epitopes have been described (Stickler, M., et al. (2003) J Immunol Methods, 281: 95-108). Of particular interest are peptide sequences that can be oligomerized without generating T cell epitopes or non-human sequences. This is achieved by testing direct repeats of these sequences for the presence of T-cell epitopes and for the occurrence of 6 to 15-mer and, in particular, 9-mer sequences that are not human, and then altering the design of the XTEN sequence to eliminate or disrupt the epitope sequence. In some embodiments, the XTEN sequences are substantially non-immunogenic by the restriction of the numbers of epitopes of the XTEN predicted to bind MHC receptors. With a reduction in the numbers of epitopes capable of binding to MHC receptors, there is a concomitant reduction in the potential for T cell activation as well as T cell helper function, reduced B cell activation or upregulation and reduced antibody production. The low degree of predicted T-cell epitopes can be determined by epitope prediction algorithms such as, e.g., TEPITOPE (Sturniolo, T., et al. (1999) Nat Biotechnol, 17: 555-61), as shown in Example 45. The TEPITOPE score of a given peptide frame within a protein is the log of the K_(d) (dissociation constant, affinity, off-rate) of the binding of that peptide frame to multiple of the most common human MHC alleles, as disclosed in Sturniolo, T. et al. (1999) Nature Biotechnology 17:555). The score ranges over at least 20 logs, from about 10 to about −10 (corresponding to binding constraints of 10e¹⁰ K_(d) to 10e⁻¹⁰ K_(d), and can be reduced by avoiding hydrophobic amino acids that serve as anchor residues during peptide display on MHC, such as M, I, L, V, F. In some embodiments, an XTEN component incorporated into a GPXTEN does not have a predicted T-cell epitope at a TEPITOPE score of about −5 or greater, or −6 or greater, or −7 or greater, or −8 or greater, or at a TEPITOPE score of −9 or greater. As used herein, a score of “−9 or greater” would encompass TEPITOPE scores of 10 to −9, inclusive, but would not encompass a score of −10, as −10 is less than −9.

In another embodiment, the inventive XTEN sequences, including those incorporated into the subject GPXTEN fusion proteins, are rendered substantially non-immunogenic by the restriction of known proteolytic sites from the sequence of the XTEN, reducing the processing of XTEN into small peptides that can bind to MHC II receptors. In another embodiment, the XTEN sequence is rendered substantially non-immunogenic by the use a sequence that is substantially devoid of secondary structure, conferring resistance to many proteases due to the high entropy of the structure. Accordingly, the reduced TEPITOPE score and elimination of known proteolytic sites from the XTEN render the XTEN compositions, including the XTEN of the GPXTEN fusion protein compositions, substantially unable to be bound by mammalian receptors, including those of the immune system. In one embodiment, an XTEN of a GPXTEN fusion protein can have >100 nM K_(d) binding to a mammalian receptor, or greater than 500 nM K_(d), or greater than 1 μM K_(d) towards a mammalian cell surface or circulating polypeptide receptor.

Additionally, the non-repetitive sequence and corresponding lack of epitopes of XTEN limit the ability of B cells to bind to or be activated by XTEN. A repetitive sequence is recognized and can form multivalent contacts with even a few B cells and, as a consequence of the cross-linking of multiple T-cell independent receptors, can stimulate B cell proliferation and antibody production. In contrast, while a XTEN can make contacts with many different B cells over its extended sequence, each individual B cell may only make one or a small number of contacts with an individual XTEN due to the lack of repetitiveness of the sequence. Not being to be bound by any theory, XTENs typically have a much lower tendency to stimulate proliferation of B cells and thus an immune response. In one embodiment, the GPXTEN may have reduced immunogenicity as compared to the corresponding GP that is not fused. In one embodiment, the administration of up to three parenteral doses of a GPXTEN to a mammal result in detectable anti-GPXTEN IgG at a serum dilution of 1:100 but not at a dilution of 1:1000. In another embodiment, the administration of up to three parenteral doses of an GPXTEN to a mammal may result in detectable anti-GP IgG at a serum dilution of 1:100 but not at a dilution of 1:1000. In another embodiment, the administration of up to three parenteral doses of a GPXTEN to a mammal result in detectable anti-GP IgG at a serum dilution of 1:100 but not at a dilution of 1:1000. In another embodiment, the administration of up to three parenteral doses of a GPXTEN to a mammal results in detectable anti-XTEN IgG at a serum dilution of 1:100 but not at a dilution of 1:1000. In the foregoing embodiments, the mammal can be a mouse, a rat, a rabbit, or a cynomolgus monkey.

An additional feature of XTENs with non-repetitive sequences relative to sequences with a high degree of repetitiveness is non-repetitive XTENs form weaker contacts with antibodies. Antibodies are multivalent molecules. For instance, IgGs have two identical binding sites and IgMs contain 10 identical binding sites. Thus antibodies against repetitive sequences can form multivalent contacts with such repetitive sequences with high avidity, which can affect the potency and/or elimination of such repetitive sequences. In contrast, antibodies against non-repetitive XTENs may yield monovalent interactions, resulting in less likelihood of immune clearance such that the GPXTEN compositions can remain in circulation for an increased period of time.

8. Increased Hydrodynamic Radius

In another aspect, the present invention provides XTEN in which the XTEN polypeptides have a high hydrodynamic radius that confers a corresponding increased Apparent Molecular Weight to the GPXTEN fusion protein incorporating the XTEN. As detailed in Example 22, the linking of XTEN to GP sequences can result in GPXTEN compositions that can have increased hydrodynamic radii, increased Apparent Molecular Weight, and increased Apparent Molecular Weight Factor compared to a GP not linked to an XTEN. For example, in therapeutic applications in which prolonged half-life is desired, compositions in which a XTEN with a high hydrodynamic radius is incorporated into a fusion protein comprising one or more GP can effectively enlarge the hydrodynamic radius of the composition beyond the glomerular pore size of approximately 3-5 nm (corresponding to an apparent molecular weight of about 70 kDA) (Caliceti. 2003. Pharmacokinetic and biodistribution properties of poly(ethylene glycol)-protein conjugates. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 55:1261-1277), resulting in reduced renal clearance of circulating proteins. The hydrodynamic radius of a protein is determined by its molecular weight as well as by its structure, including shape or compactness. Not to be bound by a particular theory, the XTEN can adopt open conformations due to electrostatic repulsion between individual charges of the peptide or the inherent flexibility imparted by the particular amino acids in the sequence that lack potential to confer secondary structure. The open, extended and unstructured conformation of the XTEN polypeptide can have a greater proportional hydrodynamic radius compared to polypeptides of a comparable sequence length and/or molecular weight that have secondary and/or tertiary structure, such as typical globular proteins. Methods for determining the hydrodynamic radius are well known in the art, such as by the use of size exclusion chromatography (SEC), as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,406,632 and 7,294,513. As the results of Example 22 demonstrate, the addition of increasing lengths of XTEN results in proportional increases in the parameters of hydrodynamic radius, Apparent Molecular Weight, and Apparent Molecular Weight Factor, permitting the tailoring of GPXTEN to desired characteristic cut-off Apparent Molecular Weights or hydrodynamic radii. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, the GPXTEN fusion protein can be configured with an XTEN such that the fusion protein can have a hydrodynamic radius of at least about 5 nm, or at least about 8 nm, or at least about 10 nm, or 12 nm, or at least about 15 nm. In the foregoing embodiments, the large hydrodynamic radius conferred by the XTEN in an GPXTEN fusion protein can lead to reduced renal clearance of the resulting fusion protein, leading to a corresponding increase in terminal half-life, an increase in mean residence time, and/or a decrease in renal clearance rate.

In another embodiment, an XTEN of a chosen length and sequence can be selectively incorporated into a GPXTEN to create a fusion protein that have, under physiologic conditions, an Apparent Molecular Weight of at least about 150 kDa, or at least about 300 kDa, or at least about 400 kDa, or at least about 500 kDA, or at least about 600 kDa, or at least about 700 kDA, or at least about 800 kDa, or at least about 900 kDa, or at least about 1000 kDa, or at least about 1200 kDa, or at least about 1500 kDa, or at least about 1800 kDa, or at least about 2000 kDa, or at least about 2300 kDa or more. In another embodiment, an XTEN of a chosen length and sequence can be selectively linked to a GP to result in a GPXTEN fusion protein that has, under physiologic conditions, an Apparent Molecular Weight Factor of at least three, alternatively of at least four, alternatively of at least five, alternatively of at least six, alternatively of at least eight, alternatively of at least 10, alternatively of at least 15, or an Apparent Molecular Weight Factor of at least 20 or greater. In another embodiment, the GPXTEN fusion protein has, under physiologic conditions, an Apparent Molecular Weight Factor that is about 4 to about 20, or is about 6 to about 15, or is about 8 to about 12, or is about 9 to about 10 relative to the actual molecular weight of the fusion protein.

V) GPXTEN Structural Configurations and Properties

The GP of the subject compositions are not limited to native, full-length polypeptides, but also include recombinant versions as well as biologically and/or pharmacologically active variants or fragments thereof. For example, it will be appreciated that various amino acid deletions, insertions and substitutions can be made in the GP to create variants without departing from the spirit of the invention with respect to the biological activity or pharmacologic properties of the GP. Examples of conservative substitutions for amino acids in polypeptide sequences are shown in Table 6. However, in embodiments of the GPXTEN in which the sequence identity of the GP is less than 100% compared to a specific sequence disclosed herein, the invention contemplates substitution of any of the other 19 natural L-amino acids for a given amino acid residue of the given GP, which may be at any position within the sequence of the GP, including adjacent amino acid residues. If any one substitution results in an undesirable change in biological activity, then one of the alternative amino acids can be employed and the construct evaluated by the methods described herein, or using any of the techniques and guidelines for conservative and non-conservative mutations set forth, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,934, the contents of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, or using methods generally known in the art. In addition, variants can include, for instance, polypeptides wherein one or more amino acid residues are added or deleted at the N- or C-terminus of the full-length native amino acid sequence of a GP that retains some if not all of the biological activity of the native peptide.

TABLE 6 Exemplary conservative amino acid substitutions Original Residue Exemplary Substitutions Ala (A) val; leu; ile Arg (R) lys; gln; asn Asn (N) gln; his; lys; arg Asp (D) glu Cys (C) ser Gln (Q) asn Glu (E)  asp Gly (G)  pro His (H) asn: gln: lys: arg xIle (I) leu; val; met; ala; phe: norleucine Leu (L) norleucine: ile: val; met; ala: phe Lys (K) arg: gln: asn Met (M) leu; phe; ile Phe (F) leu: val: ile; ala Pro (P)  gly Ser (S)  thr Thr (T) ser Trp (W) tyr Tyr (Y) trp: phe: thr: ser Val (V) ile; leu; met; phe; ala; norleucine

a. GPXTEN Fusion Protein Configurations

The invention provides GPXTEN fusion protein compositions with the GP and XTEN components linked in specific N- to C-terminus configurations. In some embodiments, one or more GPs are linked to one or more XTENs, either at the N-terminus or at the C-terminus, with or without a spacer, to form a block copolymer, and the sequential arrangement of the GPs and the XTENs in the GPXTEN fusion protein are the same as the configuration known in the block copolymer chemistry. When there is more than one GP, XTEN, or spacer, each of the GP, the XTEN, or the spacer have the same or different sequences, and the GPs and/or XTENs are linked either continuos or alternately (regular or irregular). Thus, in all of the formulae provided herein, when there is more than one GP, XTEN, or spacer, each of the GP, XTEN, and spacer are the same or different. In some embodiments, the GPXTEN is a monomeric fusion protein with a GP linked to one XTEN polypeptide. In other cases, the GPXTEN is a monomeric fusion protein with a GP linked to two or more XTEN polypeptides. In still other embodiments, the GPXTEN is a monomeric fusion protein with two or more GP linked to one XTEN polypeptide. In still other embodiments, the GPXTEN is a monomeric fusion protein with two or more GP linked to two or more XTEN polypeptide. Table 7 provides non-limiting examples of configurations that are encompassed by the GPXTEN fusion proteins of the invention; numerous other variations will be apparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan, including the incorporation the spacer and cleavage sequences disclosed herein or known in the art.

TABLE 7 GPXTEN configurations Components Configuration* Single GP; Single XTEN GP-XTEN XTEN-GP Single GP; Multiple XTEN XTEN-GP-XTEN GP-XTEN-XTEN XTEN-XTEN-GP XTEN-GP-XTEN-XTEN XTEN-XTEN-GP-XTEN XTEN-XTEN-GP-XTEN Multiple GP, Single XTEN GP-XTEN-GP XTEN-GP-GP GP-GP-XTEN GP-XTEN-GP-GP Multiple GP; Multiple XTEN GP-XTEN-GP-XTEN XTEN-GP-XTEN-GP XTEN-XTEN-GP-XTEN-GP XTEN-XTEN-GP-GP GP-XTEN-XTEN-GP GP-GP-XTEN-XTEN GP-GP-XTEN-XTEN-GP GP-XTEN-GP-XTEN-GP *Characterized as single for 1 component or multiple for 2 or more of that component **Reflects N- to C-terminus configuration of the glucose regulating peptide and XTEN components

The invention contemplates GPXTEN fusion proteins compositions comprising, but not limited to GP selected from the sequences of Tables 1-3 (or fragments or sequence variants thereof), XTEN selected from Table 5 (or sequence variants thereof) that are in a configuration shown in Table 7. Generally, the resulting GPXTEN will retains at least a portion of the biological activity of the corresponding GP not linked to the XTEN. In other embodiments, the GP component either becomes biologically active or has an increase in activity upon its release from the XTEN by cleavage of an optional cleavage sequence incorporated within spacer sequences into the GPXTEN, described more fully below.

In one embodiment of the GPXTEN composition, the invention provides a fusion protein of formula (XTEN)_(x)-GP-(XTEN)_(y)  I wherein independently for each occurrence, GP is a is a glucose regulating peptide; x is either 0 or 1 and y is either 0 or 1 wherein x+y≧1; and XTEN is an extended recombinant polypeptide.

In another embodiment of the GPXTEN composition, the invention provides a fusion protein of formula II: (XTEN)_(x)(GP)-(S)_(y)-(XTEN)_(y)  II wherein independently for each occurrence, GP is a is a glucose regulating peptide a; S is a spacer sequence having between 1 to about 50 amino acid residues that can optionally include a cleavage sequence; x is either 0 or 1 and y is either 0 or 1 wherein x+y≧1; and XTEN is an extended recombinant polypeptide.

In another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein is of formula III: (GP)-(S)_(x)-(XTEN)-(S)_(y)-(GP)-(S)_(z)-(XTEN)_(z)  III wherein independently for each occurrence, GP is a is a glucose regulating peptide; S is a spacer sequence having between 1 to about 50 amino acid residues that can optionally include a cleavage sequence; x is either 0 or 1; y is either 0 or 1; z is either 0 or 1; and XTEN is an extended recombinant polypeptide.

In another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein is of formula IV: (XTEN)_(x)-(S)_(y)-(GP)-(S)_(z)-(XTEN)-(GP)  IV wherein independently for each occurrence, GP is a is a glucose regulating peptide; S is a spacer sequence having between 1 to about 50 amino acid residues that can optionally include a cleavage sequence; x is either 0 or 1; y is either 0 or 1; z is either 0 or 1; and XTEN is an extended recombinant polypeptide.

In another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein is of formula VIII: ((S)_(m)-(GP)_(x)-(S)_(n)-(XTEN)_(y)-(S)_(o))_(t)  VIII wherein t is an integer that is greater than 0 (1, 2, 3, 4, etc. . . . ); independently each of m, n, o, x, and y is an integer (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), GP is a is a glucose regulating peptide; S is an spacer, optionally comprising a cleavage site; and XTEN is an extended recombinant polypeptide, with the proviso that: (1) x+y>1, (2) when t=1, x>0 and y>0, (3) when there is more than one GP, S, or XTEN, each GP, XTEN, or S are the same or independently different; and (4) when t>1, each m, n, o, x, or y within each subunit are the same or are independently different.

In some cases, administration of a therapeutically effective dose of a fusion protein of an embodiment of formulas I-VIII to a subject in need thereof can result in a gain in time of at least two-fold, or at least three-fold, or at least four-fold, or at least five-fold or more spent within a therapeutic window for the fusion protein compared to the corresponding GP not linked to the XTEN of and administered at a comparable dose to a subject. In other cases, administration of a therapeutically effective dose of a fusion protein of an embodiment of formulas I-VIII to a subject in need thereof can result in a gain in time between consecutive doses necessary to maintain a therapeutically effective dose regimen of at least 48 h, or at least 72 h, or at least about 96 h, or at least about 120 h, or at least about 7 days, or at least about 14 days, or at least about 21 days between consecutive doses compared to a GP not linked to XTEN and administered at a comparable dose.

Any spacer sequence group is optional in the fusion proteins encompassed by the invention. The spacer may be provided to enhance expression of the fusion protein from a host cell or to decrease steric hindrance such that the GP component may assume its desired tertiary structure and/or interact appropriately with its target receptor. For spacers and methods of identifying desirable spacers, see, for example, George, et al. (2003) Protein Engineering 15:871-879, specifically incorporated by reference herein. In one embodiment, the spacer comprises one or more peptide sequences that are between 1-50 amino acid residues in length, or about 1-25 residues, or about 1-10 residues in length. Spacer sequences, exclusive of cleavage sites, can comprise any of the 20 natural L amino acids, and will preferably comprise hydrophilic amino acids that are sterically unhindered that can include, but not be limited to, glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P). In some cases, the spacer can be polyglycines or polyalanines, or is predominately a mixture of combinations of glycine and alanine residues. The spacer polypeptide exclusive of a cleavage sequence is largely to substantially devoid of secondary structure; e.g., less than about 10%, or less than about 5% as determined by the Chou-Fasman and/or GOR algorithms. In one embodiment, one or both spacer sequences in a GPXTEN fusion protein composition may each further contain a cleavage sequence, which may be identical or may be different, wherein the cleavage sequence may be acted on by a protease to release the GP from the fusion protein.

In some cases, the incorporation of the cleavage sequence into the GPXTEN is designed to permit release of a GP that becomes active or more active upon its release from the XTEN. The cleavage sequences are located sufficiently close to the GP sequences, generally within 18, or within 12, or within 6, or within 2 amino acids of the GP sequence terminus, such that any remaining residues attached to the GP after cleavage do not appreciably interfere with the activity (e.g., such as binding to a receptor) of the GP, yet provide sufficient access to the protease to be able to effect cleavage of the cleavage sequence. In some embodiments, the cleavage site is a sequence that can be cleaved by a protease endogenous to the mammalian subject such that the GPXTEN can be cleaved after administration to a subject. In such cases, the GPXTEN can serve as a prodrug or a circulating depot for the GP. Examples of cleavage sites contemplated by the invention include, but are not limited to, a polypeptide sequence cleavable by a mammalian endogenous protease selected from FXIa, FXIIa, kallikrein, FVIIa, FIXa, FXa, FIIa (thrombin), Elastase-2, granzyme B, MMP-12, MMP-13, MMP-17 or MMP-20, or by non-mammalian proteases such as TEV, enterokinase, PreScission™ protease (rhinovirus 3C protease), and sortase A. Sequences known to be cleaved by the foregoing proteases and others are known in the art. Exemplary cleavage sequences and cut sites within the sequences are presented in Table 8, as well as sequence variants. For example, thrombin (activated clotting factor II) acts on the sequence LTPRSLLV (SEQ ID NO: 210) [Rawlings N. D., et al. (2008) Nucleic Acids Res., 36: D320], which would be cut after the arginine at position 4 in the sequence. Active FIIa is produced by cleavage of FII by FXa in the presence of phospholipids and calcium and is down stream from factor IX in the coagulation pathway. Once activated its natural role in coagulation is to cleave fibrinogen, which then in turn, begins clot formation. FIIa activity is tightly controlled and only occurs when coagulation is necessary for proper hemostasis. However, as coagulation is an on-going process in mammals, by incorporation of the LTPRSLLV (SEQ ID NO: 211) sequence into the GPXTEN between the GP and the XTEN, the XTEN domain would be removed from the adjoining GP concurrent with activation of either the extrinsic or intrinsic coagulation pathways when coagulation is required physiologically, thereby releasing GP over time. Similarly, incorporation of other sequences into GPXTEN that are acted upon by endogenous proteases would provide for sustained release of GP that may, in certain cases, provide a higher degree of activity for the GP from the “prodrug” form of the GPXTEN.

In some cases, only the two or three amino acids flanking both sides of the cut site (four to six amino acids total) would be incorporated into the cleavage sequence. In other cases, the known cleavage sequence can have one or more deletions or insertions or one or two or three amino acid substitutions for any one or two or three amino acids in the known sequence, wherein the deletions, insertions or substitutions result in reduced or enhanced susceptibility but not an absence of susceptibility to the protease, resulting in an ability to tailor the rate of release of the GP from the XTEN. Exemplary substitutions are shown in Table 8.

TABLE 8 Protease Cleavage Sequences Protease Acting Exemplary Upon Sequence Cleavage Sequence SEQ ID NO: Minimal Cut Site* SEQ ID NO: FXIa KLTR↓VVGG 212 KD/FL/T/R↓VA/VE/GT/GV FXIIa TMTR↓IVGG 213 NA Kallikrein SPFR↓STGG 214 -/-/FL/RY↓SR/RT/-/- FVIIa LQVR↓IVGG 215 NA FIXa PLGR↓IVGG 216 -/-/G/R↓-/-/-/- FXa IEGR↓TVGG 217 IA/E/GFP/R↓STI/VFS/-/G FIIa (thrombin) LTPR↓SLLV 218 -/-/PLA/R↓SAG/-/-/- Elastase-2 LGPV↓SGVP 219 -/-/-VIAT↓-/-/-/- Granzyme-B VAGD↓SLEE 220 V/-/-/D↓-/-/-/- MMP-12 GPAG↓LGGA 221 G/PA/-/G↓L/-/G/- 222 MMP-13 GPAG↓LRGA 223 G/P/-/G↓L/-/GA/- 224 MMP-17 APLG↓LRLR 225 -/PS/-/-↓LQ/-/LT/- MMP-20 PALP↓LVAQ 226 NA TEV ENLYFQ↓G 227 ENLYFQ↓G/S 228 Enterokinase DDDK↓IVGG 229 DDDK↓IVGG 230 Protease 3C LEVLFQ↓GP 231 LEVLFQ↓GP 232 (PreScission ™) Sortase A LPKT↓GSES 233 L/P/KEAD/T↓G/-/EKS/S 234 ↓indicates cleavage site NA: not applicable *the listing of multiple amino acids before, between, or after a slash indicate alternative amino acids that can be substituted at the position; “-” indicates that any amino acid may be substituted for the corresponding amino acid indicated in the middle column

In one embodiment, a GP incorporated into a GPXTEN fusion protein can have a sequence that exhibits at least about 80% sequence identity to a sequence from Tables 1-3, alternatively at least about 81%, or about 82%, or about 83%, or about 84%, or about 85%, or about 86%, or about 87%, or about 88%, or about 89%, or about 90%, or about 91%, or about 92%, or about 93%, or about 94%, or about 95%, or about 96%, or about 97%, or about 98%, or about 99%, or about 100% sequence identity as compared with a sequence from Tables 1-3. The GP of the foregoing embodiment can be evaluated for activity using assays or measured or determined parameters as described herein, and those sequences that retain at least about 40%, or about 50%, or about 55%, or about 60%, or about 70%, or about 80%, or about 90%, or about 95% or more activity compared to the corresponding native GP sequence would be considered suitable for inclusion in the subject GPXTEN. The GP found to retain a suitable level of activity can be linked to one or more XTEN polypeptides described hereinabove. In one embodiment, a GP found to retain a suitable level of activity can be linked to one or more XTEN polypeptides having at least about 80% sequence identity to a sequence from Table 5, alternatively at least about 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or about 100% sequence identity as compared with a sequence of Table 5, resulting in a chimeric fusion protein.

Non-limiting examples of sequences of GPXTEN fusion proteins containing a single GP linked to a single XTEN are presented in Table 36, and sequences of GPXTEN fusion proteins containing a single GP linked to two XTEN are presented in Table 37. In one embodiment, a GPXTEN composition would comprise a fusion protein having at least about 80% sequence identity to a GPXTEN from Tables 36-37, alternatively at least about 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or about 100% sequence identity as compared with a GPXTEN from Tables 36-37. However, the invention also contemplates substitution of other GP with sequences exhibiting at least about 90% sequence identity to a sequence selected from Tables 1-3 linked to one or two XTEN, which may be the same or different, exhibiting at least about 90% sequence identity selected from Table 5. In the foregoing fusion proteins hereinabove described in this paragraph, the GPXTEN fusion protein can further comprise a cleavage sequence from Table 8; the cleavage sequence being located between the GP and the XTEN or between adjacent GP (if more than one GP is included in the GPXTEN). In some cases, the GPXTEN comprising the cleavage sequences will also have one or more'spacer sequence amino acids between the GP and the cleavage sequence or the XTEN and the cleavage sequence to facilitate access of the protease; the spacer amino acids comprising any natural amino acid, including glycine and alanine as preferred amino acids. Non-limiting examples of GPXTEN comprising GP, XTEN, cleavage sequence(s) and spacer amino acids are presented in Table 38. However, the invention also contemplates substitution of any of the GP sequences of Tables 1-3 for a GP sequence of Tables 36-38, substitution of any XTEN sequence of Table 5 for an XTEN sequence of Tables 36-38, and substitution of any cleavage sequence of Table 8 for a cleavage sequence of Table 38.

b. Pharmacokinetic Properties of GPXTEN

The invention provides GPXTEN fusion proteins with enhanced pharmacokinetics compared to the GP not linked to XTEN that, when used at the dose determined for the composition by the methods described herein, can achieve a circulating concentration resulting in a pharmacologic effect, yet stay within the safety range for biologically active component of the composition for an extended period of time compared to a comparable dose of the GP not linked to XTEN. In such cases, the GPXTEN remains within the therapeutic window for the fusion protein composition for the extended period of time. As used herein, a “comparable dose” means a dose with an equivalent moles/kg for the active GP pharmacophore that is administered to a subject in a comparable fashion. It will be understood in the art that a “comparable dosage” of GPXTEN fusion protein would represent a greater weight of agent but would have essentially the same mole-equivalents of GP in the dose of the fusion protein and/or would have the same approximate molar concentration relative to the GP.

The pharmacokinetic properties of a GP that can be enhanced by linking a given XTEN to the GP include terminal half-life, area under the curve (AUC), C_(max) volume of distribution, and bioavailability providing enhanced utility in the treatment of glucose regulating peptide-related disorders, diseases and related conditions. The GP of the GPXTEN compositions exhibiting enhanced PK properties can be a sequence that exhibits at least about 80% sequence identity, or alternatively 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity to a protein sequence selected from Tables 1-3, linked to one or more XTEN that exhibit at least about 80% sequence identity, or alternatively 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity to a protein sequence selected from Table 5, and can be in a configuration selected from the configurations of Table 7.

As described more fully in the Examples pertaining to pharmacokinetic characteristics of fusion proteins comprising XTEN, it was surprisingly discovered that increasing the length of the XTEN sequence could confer a disproportionate increase in the terminal half-life of a fusion protein comprising the XTEN. Accordingly, the invention provides GPXTEN fusion proteins comprising XTEN wherein the XTEN can be selected to provide a targeted half-life for the GPXTEN composition administered to a subject. In some embodiments, the invention provides monomeric fusion proteins comprising XTEN wherein the XTEN is selected to confer an increase in the terminal half-life for the GPXTEN administered to a subject, compared to the corresponding GP not linked to the fusion protein and administered at a comparable dose, of at least about two-fold longer, or at least about three-fold, or at least about four-fold, or at least about five-fold, or at least about six-fold, or at least about seven-fold, or at least about eight-fold, or at least about nine-fold, or at least about ten-fold, or at least about 15-fold, or at least a 20-fold, or at least a 40-fold, or at least a 80-fold, or at least a 100-fold or greater an increase in terminal half-life compared to the GP not linked to the fusion protein. Exogenously administered exendin-4 has been reported to have a terminal half-life in humans of 2.4 h and glucagon has a half-life of less than 20 minutes, whereas various GPXTEN compositions disclosed herein that have been experimentally administered to various animals species, as described in the Examples, have resulted in terminal half-life values of several hours. Similarly, the GPXTEN fusion proteins can have an increase in AUC of at least about 50%, or at least about 60%, or at least about 70%, or at least about 80%, or at least about 90%, or at least about a 100%, or at least about 150%, or at least about 200%, or at least about 300%, or at least about 500%, or at least about 1000%, or at least about a 2000% increase in AUC compared to the corresponding GP not linked to the fusion protein and administered to a subject at a comparable dose. The pharmacokinetic parameters of a GPXTEN can be determined by standard methods involving dosing, the taking of blood samples at times intervals, and the assaying of the protein using ELISA, HPLC, radioassay, or other methods known in the art or as described herein, followed by standard calculations of the data to derive the half-life and other PK parameters.

The invention further provides GPXTEN comprising a first and a second GP molecule, optionally separated by a spacer sequence that may further comprise a cleavage sequence, or separated by a second XTEN sequence. In one embodiment, the GP has less activity when linked to the fusion protein compared to a corresponding GP not linked to the fusion protein. In such case, as illustrated in FIG. 38, the GPXTEN can be designed such that upon administration to a subject, the GP component is gradually released by cleavage of the cleavage sequence(s), whereupon it regains activity or the ability to bind to its target receptor or ligand. Accordingly, the GPXTEN of the foregoing serves as a prodrug or a circulating depot, resulting in a longer terminal half-life compared to GP not linked to the fusion protein.

c. Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Properties of GPXTEN

The present invention provides GPXTEN compositions comprising GP covalently linked to XTEN that can have enhanced properties compared to GP not linked to XTEN, as well as methods to enhance the therapeutic and/or biologic activity or effect of the respective two GP components of the compositions. In addition, the invention provides GPXTEN compositions with enhanced properties compared to those art-known fusion proteins containing immunoglobulin polypeptide partners, polypeptides of shorter length and/or polypeptide partners with repetitive sequences. In addition, GPXTEN fusion proteins provide significant advantages over chemical conjugates, such as pegylated constructs, notably the fact that recombinant GPXTEN fusion proteins can be made in bacterial cell expression systems, which can reduce time and cost at both the research and development and manufacturing stages of a product, as well as result in a more homogeneous, defined product with less toxicity for both the product and metabolites of the GPXTEN compared to pegylated conjugates.

As therapeutic agents, the GPXTEN may possess a number of advantages over therapeutics not comprising XTEN including one or more of the following non-limiting exemplary enhance properties; increased solubility, increased thermal stability, reduced immunogenicity, increased apparent molecular weight, reduced renal clearance, reduced proteolysis, reduced metabolism, enhanced therapeutic efficiency, a lower effective therapeutic dose, increased bioavailability, increased time between dosages capable of maintain blood levels within the therapeutic window for the GP, a “tailored” rate of absorption, enhanced lyophilization stability, enhanced serum/plasma stability, increased terminal half-life, increased solubility in blood stream, decreased binding by neutralizing antibodies, decreased receptor-mediated clearance, reduced side effects, retention of receptor/ligand binding affinity or receptor/ligand activation, stability to degradation, stability to freeze-thaw, stability to proteases, stability to ubiquitination, ease of administration, compatibility with other pharmaceutical excipients or carriers, persistence in the subject, increased stability in storage (e.g., increased shelf-life), reduced toxicity in an organism or environment and the like. The net effect of the enhanced properties is that the GPXTEN may result in enhanced therapeutic and/or biologic effect or improved patient compliance when administered to a subject with a glucose regulating peptide-related disease or disorder.

In other cases where, where enhancement of the pharmaceutical or physicochemical properties of the GP is desirable, (such as the degree of aqueous solubility or stability), the length and/or the motif family composition of the first and the second XTEN sequences of the first and the second fusion protein may each be selected to confer a different degree of solubility and/or stability on the respective fusion proteins such that the overall pharmaceutical properties of the GPXTEN composition are enhanced. The GPXTEN fusion proteins can be constructed and assayed, using methods described herein, to confirm the physicochemical properties and the XTEN adjusted, as needed, to result in the desired properties. In one embodiment, the XTEN sequence of the GPXTEN is selected such that the fusion protein has an aqueous solubility that is within at least about 25% greater compared to a GP not linked to the fusion protein, or at least about 30%, or at least about 40%, or at least about 50%, or at least about 75%, or at least about 100%, or at least about 200%, or at least about 300%, or at least about 400%, or at least about 500%, or at least about 1000% greater than the corresponding GP not linked to the fusion protein. In the embodiments hereinabove described in this paragraph, the XTEN of the fusion proteins can have at least about 80% sequence identity, or about 90%, or about 91%, or about 92%, or about 93%, or about 94%, or about 95%, or about 96%, or about 97%, or about 98%, or about 99%, to about 100% sequence identity to an XTEN selected from Table 5.

In one embodiment, the invention provides GPXTEN compositions that can maintain the GP component within a therapeutic window for a greater period of time compared to comparable dosages of the corresponding GP not linked to XTEN. It will be understood in the art that a “comparable dosage” of GPXTEN fusion protein would represent a greater weight of agent but would have the same approximate mole-equivalents of GP in the dose of the fusion protein and/or would have the same approximate molar concentration relative to the GP.

The invention also provides methods to select the XTEN appropriate for conjugation to provide the desired pharmacokinetic properties that, when matched with the selection of dose, enables increased efficacy of the administered composition by maintaining the circulating concentrations of the GP within the therapeutic window for an enhanced period of time. As used herein, “therapeutic window” means that the amount of drug or biologic as a blood or plasma concentration range, which provides efficacy or a desired pharmacologic effect over time for the disease or condition without unacceptable toxicity; the range of the circulating blood concentrations between the minimal amount to achieve any positive therapeutic effect and the maximum amount which results in a response that is the response immediately before toxicity to the subject (at a higher dose or concentration). Additionally, therapeutic window generally encompasses an aspect of time; the maximum and minimum concentration that results in a desired pharmacologic effect over time that does not result in unacceptable toxicity or adverse events. A dosed composition that stays within the therapeutic window for the subject could also be said to be within the “safety range.”

The characteristics of GPXTEN compositions of the invention, including functional characteristics or biologic and pharmacologic activity and parameters that result, may be determined by any suitable screening assay known in the art for measuring the desired characteristic. The invention provides methods to assay the GPXTEN fusion proteins of differing composition or configuration in order to provide GPXTEN with the desired degree of biologic and/or therapeutic activity, as well as safety profile. Specific in vivo and ex vivo biological assays may be used to assess the activity of each configured GPXTEN and/or GP component to be incorporated into GPXTEN, including but not limited to the assays of the Examples, those assays of Table 35, as well as the following assays or other such assays known in the art for assaying the properties and effects of GP. Assays can be conducted that allow determination of binding characteristics of the GPXTEN for GP receptors or a ligand, including binding constant (K_(d)), EC₅₀ values, as well as their half-life of dissociation of the ligand-receptor complex (T_(1/2)). Binding affinity can be measured, for example, by a competition-type binding assay that detects changes in the ability to specifically bind to a receptor (see, e.g., Examples). Additionally, techniques such as flow cytometry or surface plasmon resonance can be used to detect binding events. The assays may comprise soluble receptor molecules, or may determine the binding to cell-expressed receptors. Such assays may include cell-based assays, including assays for calcium flux, signal transduction, and cell proliferation. Other possible assays may determine receptor binding of expressed polypeptides, wherein the assay may comprise soluble receptor molecules, or may determine the binding to cell-expressed receptors. The binding affinity of a GPXTEN for the target receptors of the corresponding GP can be assayed using binding or competitive binding assays, such as Biacore assays with chip-bound receptors or binding proteins or ELISA assays, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,617, assays described in the Examples herein, radio-receptor assays, or other assays known in the art. In addition, GP sequence variants (assayed as single components or as GPXTEN fusion proteins) can be compared to the native GP using a competitive ELISA binding assay to determine whether they have the same binding specificity and affinity as the native GP, or some fraction thereof such that they are suitable for inclusion in GPXTEN. Functional assays can include insulin concentrations and/or generation within target cells as a result of exposure to GPXTEN, and/or the resulting stimulatory effects of beta cells, glucose uptake and/or homeostasis, HbA1c concentrations, insulin concentrations, stimulated C peptide, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum cytokine levels, CRP levels, insulin secretion and Insulin-sensitivity index derived from an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), as well as body weight, food consumption, and other accepted diabetic markers known in the art would be suitable parameters to assess the activity of GP for inclusion in the GPXTEN fusion protein or the resulting GPXTEN.

Dose optimization is important for all drugs, especially for those with a narrow therapeutic window. For example, a standardized single dose of GP for all patients presenting with a diverse symptoms or abnormal clinical parameters may not always be effective. A consideration of these factors is well within the purview of the ordinarily skilled clinician for the purpose of determining the therapeutically or pharmacologically effective amount of the GPXTEN, versus that amount that would result in unacceptable toxicity and place it outside of the safety range, or insufficient potency such that clinical improvement is not achieved.

In many cases, the therapeutic window for GP in subjects of different ages or degree of disease have been established and are available in published literature or are stated on the drug label for approved products containing the GP. In other cases, the therapeutic window can be established. The methods for establishing the therapeutic window for a given composition are known to those of skill in the art (see, e.g., Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 11^(th) Edition, McGraw-Hill (2005)). For example, by using dose-escalation studies in subjects with the target disease or disorder to determine efficacy or a desirable pharmacologic effect, appearance of adverse events, and determination of circulating blood levels, the therapeutic window for a given subject or population of subjects can be determined for a given drug or biologic, or combinations of biologics or drugs. The dose escalation studies can evaluate the activity of a GPXTEN through metabolic studies in a subject or group of subjects that monitor physiological or biochemical parameters, as known in the art or as described herein for one or more parameters associated with the metabolic disease or disorder, or clinical parameters associated with a beneficial outcome for the particular indication, together with observations and/or measured parameters to determine the no effect dose, adverse events, maximum tolerated dose and the like, together with measurement of pharmacokinetic parameters that establish the determined or derived circulating blood levels. The results can then be correlated with the dose administered and the blood concentrations of the therapeutic that are coincident with the foregoing determined parameters or effect levels. By these methods, a range of doses and blood concentrations can be correlated to the minimum effective dose as well as the maximum dose and blood concentration at which a desired effect occurs and above which toxicity occurs, thereby establishing the therapeutic window for the dosed therapeutic. Blood concentrations of the fusion protein (or as measured by the GP component) above the maximum would be considered outside the therapeutic window or safety range. Thus, by the foregoing methods, a C_(min) blood level would be established, below which the GPXTEN fusion protein would not have the desired pharmacologic effect, and a C_(max) blood level would be established that would represent the highest circulating concentration before reaching a concentration that would elicit unacceptable side effects, toxicity or adverse events, placing it outside the safety range for the GPXTEN. With such concentrations established, the frequency of dosing and the dosage can be further refined by measurement of the C_(max) and C_(min) to provide the appropriate dose and dose frequency to keep the fusion protein(s) within the therapeutic window. One of skill in the art can, by the means disclosed herein or by other methods known in the art, confirm that the administered GPXTEN remains in the therapeutic window for the desired interval or requires adjustment in dose or length or sequence of XTEN. Further, the determination of the appropriate dose and dose frequency to keep the GPXTEN within the therapeutic window establishes the therapeutically effective dose regimen; the schedule for administration of multiple consecutive doses using a therapeutically effective dose of the fusion protein to a subject in need thereof resulting in consecutive C_(max) peaks and/or C_(min) troughs that remain within the therapeutic window and results in an improvement in at least one measured parameter relevant for the target disease, disorder or condition. In some cases, the GPXTEN administered at an appropriate dose to a subject may result in blood concentrations of the GPXTEN fusion protein that remains within the therapeutic window for a period at least about two-fold longer compared to the corresponding GP not linked to XTEN and administered at a comparable dose; alternatively at least about three-fold longer; alternatively at least about four-fold longer; alternatively at least about five-fold longer; alternatively at least about six-fold longer; alternatively at least about seven-fold longer; alternatively at least about eight-fold longer; alternatively at least about nine-fold longer or at least about ten-fold longer or greater compared to the corresponding GP not linked to XTEN and administered at a comparable dose. As used herein, an “appropriate dose” means a dose of a drug or biologic that, when administered to a subject, would result in a desirable therapeutic or pharmacologic effect and a blood concentration within the therapeutic window.

In one embodiment, the GPXTEN administered at a therapeutically effective dose regimen results in a gain in time of at least about three-fold longer; alternatively at least about four-fold longer; alternatively at least about five-fold longer; alternatively at least about six-fold longer; alternatively at least about seven-fold longer; alternatively at least about eight-fold longer; alternatively at least about nine-fold longer or at least about ten-fold longer between at least two consecutive C_(max) peaks and/or C_(min) troughs for blood levels of the fusion protein compared to the corresponding biologically active protein of the fusion protein not linked to the fusion protein and administered at a comparable dose regimen to a subject. In another embodiment, the GPXTEN administered at a therapeutically effective dose regimen results in a comparable improvement in one, or two, or three or more measured parameter using less frequent dosing or a lower total dosage in moles of the fusion protein of the pharmaceutical composition compared to the corresponding biologically active protein component(s) not linked to the fusion protein and administered to a subject using a therapeutically effective dose regimen for the GP. The measured parameters may include any of the clinical, biochemical, or physiological parameters disclosed herein, or others known in the art for assessing subjects with glucose- or insulin-related disorders.

The activity of the GPXTEN compositions of the invention, including functional characteristics or biologic and pharmacologic activity and parameters that result, may be determined by any suitable screening assay known in the art for measuring the desired characteristic. The activity and structure of the GPXTEN polypeptides comprising GP components may be assessed by measuring parameters described herein, by use of one or more assays selected from Table 35, assays of the Examples, or by methods known in the art to ascertain the degree of solubility, structure and retention of biologic activity. Assays can be conducted that allow determination of binding characteristics of the GPXTEN for GP receptors or a ligand, including binding constant (K_(d)), EC₅₀ values, as well as their half-life of dissociation of the ligand-receptor complex (T_(1/2)). Binding affinity can be measured, for example, by a competition-type binding assay that detects changes in the ability to specifically bind to a receptor or ligand (see, e.g., Examples). Additionally, techniques such as flow cytometry or surface plasmon resonance can be used to detect binding events. The assays may comprise soluble receptor molecules, or may determine the binding to cell-expressed receptors. Such assays may include cell-based assays, including assays for proliferation, cell death, apoptosis and cell migration. Other possible assays may determine receptor binding of expressed polypeptides, wherein the assay may comprise soluble receptor molecules, or may determine the binding to cell-expressed receptors. The binding affinity of a GPXTEN for the target receptors or ligands of the corresponding GP can be assayed using binding or competitive binding assays, such as Biacore assays with chip-bound receptors or binding proteins or ELISA assays, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,617, assays described in the Examples herein, radio-receptor assays, or other assays known in the art. In addition, GP sequence variants (assayed as single components or as GPXTEN fusion proteins) can be compared to the native GP using a competitive ELISA binding assay to determine whether they have the same binding specificity and affinity as the native GP, or some fraction thereof such that they are suitable for inclusion in GPXTEN.

The invention provides isolated GPXTEN in which the binding affinity for GP target receptors or ligands by the GPXTEN can be at least about 10%, or at least about 20%, or at least about 30%, or at least about 40%, or at least about 50%, or at least about 60%, or at least about 70%, or at least about 80%, or at least about 90%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 99%, or at least about 100% or more of the affinity of a native GP not bound to XTEN for the target receptor or ligand. In some cases, the binding affinity K_(d) between the subject GPXTEN and a native receptor or ligand of the GPXTEN is at least about 10⁻⁴M, alternatively at least about 10⁻⁵ M, alternatively at least about 10⁻⁶M, or at least about 10⁻⁴ M, or at least about 10⁻⁸M, or at least about 10⁻⁹M of the affinity between the GPXTEN and a native receptor or ligand.

In other cases, the invention provides isolated GPXTEN fusion proteins specifically designed to have reduced binding affinity to the GP receptor. In one em, such as fusion proteins comprising an XTEN fused to the C-terminus of the GP component. In some cases, the GPXTEN can be configured to have reduced binding affinity wherein the binding affinity is assessed by an in vitro cell receptor binding assay wherein the binding is reduced by about 10%, or about 20%, or about 40%, or about 60%, or about 80%, or about 90% compared to native GP. In other cases, the GPXTEN can be configured to have reduced binding affinity wherein the binding affinity is assessed by signal transduction wherein the GPXTEN fusion protein elicits less than about 80%, or less than about 60%, or less than about 40%, or less than about 20%, or less than 10%, or less than about 5% activation of the signaling pathways of the cell with bound GPXTEN in comparison to those evoked by the native GP ligand. In the foregoing cases, the binding affinity is “substantially reduced.” Non-limiting examples of specific constructs of such GPXTEN with reduced binding affinity include fusion proteins with at least about 80% sequence identity, or at least about 85% sequence identity, or at least about 90% sequence identity, or at least about 95% sequence identity, or at least about 97% sequence identity, or at least about 99% sequence identity to GP fusion proteins selected from AE912-GP-AE144, AE912-GP-AF144, AE912-GP-AE288, AM923-GP-AE144, AM923-GP-AF144, AM923-GP-AE288.

In some cases, the GPXTEN fusion proteins of the invention retain at least about 10%, or about 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98%, or 99% percent of the biological activity of the corresponding GP not linked to the fusion protein with regard to an in vitro biologic activity or an in vivo pharmacologic effect known or associated with the use of the native GP in the treatment and prevention of metabolic conditions and disorders. Non-limiting examples of activities or pharmacologic effects that can be assayed to assess the retained activity of the GPXTEN fusion proteins include including assays for calcium flux and/or signal transduction in response to receptor binding, insulin concentrations and/or generation within target cells as a result of exposure to GPXTEN, and/or the resulting stimulatory effects of beta cells, glucose uptake and/or homeostasis, HbA1c concentrations, insulin concentrations, stimulated C peptide, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum cytokine levels, CRP levels, insulin secretion and Insulin-sensitivity index derived from an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), as well as body weight, food consumption, and other accepted diabetic markers known in the art would be suitable parameters to assess the activity of GP for inclusion in the GPXTEN fusion protein or the resulting GPXTEN.

In some cases of the foregoing embodiment, the activity of the GP component may be manifest by the intact GPXTEN fusion protein, while in other cases the activity of the GP component would be primarily manifested upon cleavage and release of the GP from the fusion protein by action of a protease that acts on a cleavage sequence incorporated into the GPXTEN fusion protein. In the foregoing, the GPXTEN can be designed to reduce the binding affinity of the GP component for the receptor or ligand when linked to the XTEN but have increased affinity when released from XTEN through the cleavage of cleavage sequence(s) incorporated into the GPXTEN sequence, as described more fully above.

In other cases, the GPXTEN can be designed to reduce the binding affinity of the GP component to the GP receptor to increase the terminal half-life of GPXTEN administered to a subject by reducing receptor-mediated clearance; e.g., by adding an XTEN to the C-terminus of the GP component of the fusion protein. In other cases, the GPXTEN are designed to reduce the binding affinity of the GP component to the GP receptor to reduce toxicity or side effects due to the administered composition.

Accordingly, the invention provides a method for increasing the terminal half-life of a GPXTEN by producing a single-chain fusion protein construct with a specific N- to C-terminus configuration of the components comprising at least a first GP and a first and a second XTEN, wherein the fusion protein in a first N- to C-terminus configuration of the GP and XTEN components has reduced receptor-mediated clearance (RMC) and a corresponding increase in terminal half-life compared to a GPXTEN in a second N- to C-terminus configuration. In one embodiment of the foregoing, the GPXTEN is configured, N- to C-terminus as XTEN-GP-XTEN, which has reduced receptor binding compared to a GPXTEN configures, N- to C-terminus XTEN-GP. In another embodiment of the foregoing, the GPXTEN is configured GP-XTEN. In the foregoing embodiments, the two XTEN molecules can be identical or they can be of a different sequence composition or length. Non-limiting examples of the foregoing embodiment with two XTEN linked to a single GP include the constructs AE912-GP-AE144, AE912-GP-AE288, AE864-GP-AE144, AM923-GP-AE144, and AM923-GP-AE288. The invention contemplates other such constructs in which a GP from Tables 1-3 and XTEN from Table 5 are substituted for the respective components of the foregoing examples, and can be produced, for example, in a configuration from Table 7 such that the construct has reduced receptor mediated clearance compared to an alternate configuration of the respective components. In some cases, the foregoing method for increasing the terminal half-life provides configured GPXTEN that can result in an increase in the terminal half-life of at least about 50%, or about 75%, or about 100%, or about 150%, or about 200%, or about 300%, or about 400% or more compared to the half-life of a GPXTEN in a second configuration where receptor binding is not reduced. The invention takes advantage of the fact that certain ligands wherein reduced binding affinity to a receptor, either as a result of a decreased on-rate or an increased off-rate, may be effected by the obstruction of either the N- or C-terminus, and using that terminus as the linkage to another polypeptide of the composition, whether another molecule of a GP, an XTEN, or a spacer sequence results in the reduced binding affinity. The choice of the particular configuration of the GPXTEN fusion protein can reduce the degree of binding affinity to the receptor such that a reduced rate of receptor-mediated clearance can be achieved. Generally, activation of the receptor is coupled to RMC such that binding of a polypeptide to its receptor without activation does not lead to RMC, while activation of the receptor leads to RMC. However, in some cases, particularly where the ligand has an increased off rate, the ligand may nevertheless be able to bind sufficiently to initiate cell signaling without triggering receptor mediated clearance, with the net result that the GPXTEN remains bioavailable. In such cases, the configured GPXTEN has an increased half-life compared to those configurations that lead to a higher degree of RMC.

In cases where a reduction in binding affinity to a glucose regulating peptide receptor is desired in order to reduce receptor-mediated clearance but retention of at least a portion of the biological activity is desired, it will be clear that sufficient binding affinity to obtain the desired receptor activation must nevertheless be maintained e.g., by initiation of signal transduction. Thus, in one embodiment, the invention provides a GPXTEN configured such that the binding affinity of the GPXTEN for a target receptor is in the range of about 0.01%-40%, or about 0.1%-30%, or about 1%-20% of the binding affinity compared to a corresponding GPXTEN in a configuration wherein the binding affinity is not reduced. The binding affinity of the configured BXTEN is thus preferably reduced by at least about 60%, or at least about 70%, or at least about 80%, or at least about 90%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 99%, or at least about 99.99% as compared to the binding affinity of a corresponding GPXTEN in a configuration wherein the binding affinity of the GP component to the target receptor is not reduced or compared to the GP not linked to the fusion protein, determined under comparable conditions. Expressed differently, the GP component of the configured GPXTEN may have a binding affinity that is as small as about 0.01%, or at least about 0.1%, or at least about 1%, or at least about 2%, or at least about 3%, or at least about 4%, or at least about 5%, or at least about 10%, or at least about 20%, or at least about 30%, or at least 40% of that of the corresponding GP component of a GPXTEN in a configuration wherein the binding affinity of the GP component is not reduced. In the foregoing embodiments hereinabove described in this paragraph, the binding affinity of the configured GPXTEN for the target receptor would be “substantially reduced” compared to a corresponding native GP or a GPXTEN with a configuration in which the binding affinity of the corresponding GP component is not reduced. Accordingly, the present invention provides compositions and methods to produce compositions with reduced RMC by configuring the GPXTEN, examples of which were provided above, so as to be able to bind and activate a sufficient number of receptors to obtain a desired in vivo biological response yet avoid activation of more receptors than is required for obtaining such response. In the foregoing embodiments hereinabove described in this paragraph, the increased half-life can permit higher dosages and reduced frequency of dosing compared to GP not linked to XTEN or compared to GPXTEN configurations wherein the GP component retains sufficient biological or pharmacological activity to result in a composition with clinical efficacy maintained despite reduced dosing frequency.

VI) Uses of the Compositions of the Present Invention

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for achieving a beneficial effect in a disease, disorder or condition mediated by GP. The present invention addresses disadvantages and/or limitations of GP that have a relatively short terminal half-life and/or a narrow therapeutic window between the minimum effective dose and the maximum tolerated dose.

Most processes involved in glucose homeostasis are regulated by multiple peptides and hormones, and such peptides and hormones, as well as analogues thereof, have found utility in the treatment of glucose regulating peptide-related diseases, disorders and conditions. However, the use of commercially-available glucose regulating peptides, has met with less than optimal success in the management of subjects afflicted with such diseases, disorders and conditions. In particular, dose optimization and frequency of dosing is important for peptide and hormone biologics used in the treatment of glucose regulating peptide-related diseases and disorders. The fact that many glucose regulating peptides have a short half-life, necessitates frequent dosing in order to achieve clinical benefit, which results in difficulties in the management of such patients.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for achieving a beneficial affect in a subject with a glucose regulating peptide-related disease, disorder or condition comprising the step of administering to the subject a therapeutically- or prophylactically-effective amount of a GPXTEN wherein said administration results in the improvement of one or more biochemical or physiological parameters or clinical endpoints associated with a glucose regulating peptide-related disease, disorder or condition. The effective amount can produce a beneficial effect in helping to treat (e.g., cure or reduce the severity) or prevent (e.g., reduce the likelihood of onset or severity) a glucose regulating peptide-related disease, disorder or condition. In some cases, the method for achieving a beneficial effect can include administering a therapeutically effective amount of a GPXTEN fusion protein composition to treat a subject with a glucose regulating peptide-related disease, disorder, or condition, including, but not limited to, juvenile diabetes, type I diabetes, type II diabetes, obesity, acute hypoglycemia, acute hyperglycemia, nocturnal hypoglycemia, chronic hyperglycemia, glucagonomas, secretory disorders of the airway, arthritis, osteoporosis, central nervous system disease, restenosis, neurodegenerative disease, renal failure, congestive heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, cirrhosis, pulmonary edema, hypertension, and disorders wherein the reduction of food intake is desired, stroke, irritable bowel syndrome, myocardial infarction (e.g., reducing the morbidity and/or mortality associated therewith), stroke, acute coronary syndrome (e.g., characterized by an absence of Q-wave) myocardial infarction, post-surgical catabolic changes, hibernating myocardium or diabetic cardiomyopathy, insufficient urinary sodium excretion, excessive urinary potassium concentration, conditions or disorders associated with toxic hypervolemia, (e.g., renal failure, congestive heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, cirrhosis, pulmonary edema, and hypertension), polycystic ovary syndrome, respiratory distress, nephropathy, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, (e.g., with abnormal left ventricular ejection fraction), gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea, postoperative dumping syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome, (i.e., via inhibition of antro-duodenal motility), critical illness polyneuropathy (CIPN), dyslipidemia, organ tissue injury caused by reperfusion of blood flow following ischemia, and coronary heart disease risk factor (CHDRF) syndrome, and any other indication for which the unmodified glucose-regulating peptide (e.g. exendin-4, GLP-1 or glucagon) is utilized, or any other indication for which GP can be utilized (but for which endogenous glucose regulating peptide levels in a subject are not necessarily deficient).

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of stimulating insulin secretion in subjects with a glucose regulating peptide-related disease, disorder or deficiency. The method comprises the step of administering therapeutically effective amount of GPXTEN to a subject that results in the increased blood levels and/or duration in increased blood levels of insulin compared to a subject receiving a GP not linked to an XTEN and administered at a comparable dose. In some cases, the increase in insulin secretion and/or area under the curve is at least about 20%, or at least about 30%, or at least about 40%, or at least about 50%, or at least about 75%, or at least about 100%, or at least about 200%, or at least about 300% compared to a subject receiving a GP not linked to an XTEN and administered at a comparable dose.

As a result of the enhanced PK parameters of GPXTEN, as described herein, the GP may be administered using longer intervals between doses compared to the corresponding GP not linked to XTEN to prevent, treat, alleviate, reverse or ameliorate symptoms or clinical abnormalities of the glucose regulating peptide-related disease, disorder or condition or prolong the survival of the subject being treated.

The methods of the invention may include administration of consecutive doses of a therapeutically effective amount of the GPXTEN for a period of time sufficient to achieve and/or maintain the desired parameter or clinical effect, and such consecutive doses of a therapeutically effective amount establishes the therapeutically effective dose regimen for the GPXTEN; i.e., the schedule for consecutively administered doses of the fusion protein composition, wherein the doses are given in therapeutically effective amounts to result in a sustained beneficial effect on any clinical sign or symptom, aspect, measured parameter or characteristic of a metabolic disease state or condition, including, but not limited to, those described herein. In one embodiment, the method comprises administering a therapeutically-effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a GPXTEN fusion protein composition comprising a GP linked to an XTEN sequence(s) and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to a subject in need thereof that results in greater improvement in at least one parameter, physiologic condition, or clinical outcome mediated by the GP component(s) (non-limiting examples of which are described above) compared to the effect mediated by administration of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a GP not linked to XTEN and administered at a comparable dose. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition is administered at a therapeutically effective dose. In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition is administered using multiple consecutive doses using a therapeutically effective dose regimen (as defined herein) for the length of the dosing period.

A therapeutically effective amount of the GPXTEN may vary according to factors such as the disease state, age, sex, and weight of the individual, and the ability of the antibody or antibody portion to elicit a desired response in the individual. A therapeutically effective amount is also one in which any toxic or detrimental effects of the GPXTEN are outweighed by the therapeutically beneficial effects. A prophylactically effective amount refers to an amount of GPXTEN required for the period of time necessary to achieve the desired prophylactic result.

For the inventive methods, longer acting GPXTEN compositions are preferred, so as to improve patient convenience, to increase the interval between doses and to reduce the amount of drug required to achieve a sustained effect. In one embodiment, a method of treatment comprises administration of a therapeutically effective dose of a GPXTEN to a subject in need thereof that results in a gain in time spent within a therapeutic window established for the fusion protein of the composition compared to the corresponding GP component(s) not linked to the fusion protein and administered at a comparable dose to a subject. In some cases, the gain in time spent within the therapeutic window is at least about three-fold, or at least about four-fold, or at least about five-fold, or at least about six-fold, or at least about eight-fold, or at least about 10-fold, or at least about 20-fold, or at least about 40-fold compared to the corresponding GP component not linked to the fusion protein and administered at a comparable dose to a subject. The methods further provide that administration of multiple consecutive doses of a GPXTEN administered using a therapeutically effective dose regimen to a subject in need thereof can result in a gain in time between consecutive C_(max) peaks and/or C_(min) troughs for blood levels of the fusion protein compared to the corresponding GP not linked to the fusion protein and administered using a dose regimen established for that GP. In the foregoing embodiment, the gain in time spent between consecutive C_(max) peaks and/or C_(min) troughs can be at least about three-fold, or at least about four-fold, or at least about five-fold, or at least about six-fold, or at least about eight-fold, or at least about 10-fold, or at least about 20-fold, or at least about 40-fold compared to the corresponding GP component not linked to the fusion protein and administered using a dose regimen established for that GP. In the embodiments hereinabove described in this paragraph the administration of the fusion protein can result in an improvement in at least one of the parameters (disclosed herein as being useful for assessing the subject diseases, conditions or disorders) using a lower unit dose in moles of fusion protein compared to the corresponding GP component not linked to the fusion protein and administered at a comparable unit dose or dose regimen to a subject.

The method of treatment comprises administration of a GPXTEN using a therapeutically effective dose regimen to effect improvements in one or more parameters associated with glucose regulating peptide diseases, disorders or conditions. In some cases, administration of the GPXTEN to a subject can result in an improvement in one or more of the biochemical, physiologic, or clinical parameters that is of greater magnitude than that of the corresponding GP component not linked to XTEN, determined using the same assay or based on a measured clinical parameter. In other cases, administration of the GPXTEN to a subject can result in activity in one or more of the biochemical, physiologic, or clinical parameters that is of longer duration than the activity of one of the single GP components not linked to XTEN, determined using that same assay or based on a measured clinical parameter. In one embodiment of the foregoing, the administration of the GPXTEN to a subject can result in an improvement in peak concentrations and area under the curve of blood GP levels of at least about 10%, or about 20%, or about 30%, or about 40%, or about 50% or more in the subject compared to a comparable dose of GP not linked to XTEN administered to a subject. In another embodiment of the foregoing, the administration of the GPXTEN to a subject can result in an improvement in one or more parameters selected from, but not limited to HbA1c concentrations, insulin concentrations, stimulated C peptide, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum cytokine levels, CRP levels, insulin secretion and Insulin-sensitivity index derived from an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), body weight, and food consumption.

The invention further contemplates that GPXTEN used in accordance with the methods provided herein may be administered in conjunction with other treatment methods and pharmaceutical compositions useful for treating glucose regulating peptide-related diseases, disorders, and conditions, or conditions for which glucose regulating peptide is adjunctive therapy; e.g., insulin resistance and poor glycemic control. Such compositions, may include for example, DPP-IV inhibitors, insulin, insulin analogues, PPAR gamma agonists, dual-acting PPAR agonists, GLP-1 agonists or analogues, PTPIB inhibitors, SGLT inhibitors, insulin secretagogues, RXR agonists, glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibitors, insulin sensitizers, immune modulators, beta-3 adrenergic receptor agonists, Pan-PPAR agonists, llbeta-HSDI inhibitors, biguanides, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, meglitinides, thiazolidinediones, sulfonylureas and other diabetes medicants known in the art, or anti-hypertensive drugs, calcium channel blockers, and related products. In some cases, the administration of a GPXTEN may permit use of lower dosages of the co-administered pharmaceutical composition to achieve a comparable clinical effect or measured parameter for the disease, disorder or condition in the subject.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of designing the GPXTEN compositions with desired pharmacologic or pharmaceutical properties. The GPXTEN fusion proteins are designed and prepared with various objectives in mind (compared to the GP components not linked to the fusion protein), including improving the therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of glucose regulating peptide-related diseases, disorders, and conditions, enhancing the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the fusion proteins compared to the GP, lowering the dose or frequency of dosing required to achieve a pharmacologic effect, enhancing the pharmaceutical properties, and to enhance the ability of the GP components to remain within the therapeutic window for an extended period of time.

In general, the steps in the design and production of the fusion proteins and the inventive compositions may, as illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, include: (1) the selection of GPs (e.g., native proteins, analogs or derivatives with activity) to treat the particular disease, disorder or condition; (2) selecting the XTEN that will confer the desired PK and physicochemical characteristics on the resulting GPXTEN (e.g., the administration of the composition to a subject results in the fusion protein being maintained within the therapeutic window for a greater period compared to GP not linked to XTEN); (3) establishing a desired N- to C-terminus configuration of the GPXTEN to achieve the desired efficacy or PK parameters; (4) establishing the design of the expression vector encoding the configured GPXTEN; (5) transforming a suitable host with the expression vector; and (6) expression and recovery of the resultant fusion protein. For those GPXTEN for which an increase in half-life (greater than 24 h) or an increased period of time spent within a therapeutic window is desired, the XTEN chosen for incorporation will generally have at least about 500, or about 576, or about 864, or about 875, or about 912, or about 923 amino acid residues where a single XTEN is to be incorporated into the GPXTEN. In another embodiment, the GPXTEN can comprise a first XTEN of the foregoing lengths, and a second XTEN of about 144, or about 288, or about 576, or about 864, or about 875, or about 912, or about 923 amino acid residues.

In other cases, where in increase in half-life is not required, but an increase in a pharmaceutical property (e.g., solubility) is desired, a GPXTEN can be designed to include XTEN of shorter lengths. In some embodiments of the foregoing, the GPXTEN can comprise a GP linked to an XTEN having at least about 24, or about 36, or about 48, or about 60, or about 72, or about 84, or about 96 amino acid residues, in which the solubility of the fusion protein under physiologic conditions is at least three-fold greater than the corresponding GP not linked to XTEN, or alternatively, at least four-fold, or five-fold, or six-fold, or seven-fold, or eight-fold, or nine-fold, or at least 10-fold, or at least 20-fold, or at least 30-fold, or at least 50-fold, or at least 60-fold or greater than GP not linked to XTEN. In one embodiment of the foregoing, the GP is glucagon.

In another aspect, the invention provides methods of making GPXTEN compositions to improve ease of manufacture, result in increased stability, increased water solubility, and/or ease of formulation, as compared to the native GP. In one embodiment, the invention includes a method of increasing the water solubility of a GP comprising the step of linking the GP to one or more XTEN such that a higher concentration in soluble form of the resulting GPXTEN can be achieved, under physiologic conditions, compared to the GP in an un-fused state. Factors that contribute to the property of XTEN to confer increased water solubility of GPs when incorporated into a fusion protein include the high solubility of the XTEN fusion partner and the low degree of self-aggregation between molecules of XTEN in solution. In some embodiments, the method results in a GPXTEN fusion protein wherein the water solubility is at least about 20%, or at least about 30% greater, or at least about 50% greater, or at least about 75% greater, or at least about 90% greater, or at least about 100% greater, or at least about 150% greater, or at least about 200% greater, or at least about 400% greater, or at least about 600% greater, or at least about 800% greater, or at least about 1000% greater, or at least about 2000% greater, or at least about 4000% greater, or at least about 6000% greater under physiologic conditions, compared to the un-fused GP.

In another embodiment, the invention includes a method of enhancing the shelf-life of a GP comprising the step of linking the GP with one or more XTEN selected such that the shelf-life of the resulting GPXTEN is extended compared to the GP in an un-fused state. As used herein, shelf-life refers to the period of time over which the functional activity of a GP or GPXTEN that is in solution or in some other storage formulation remains stable without undue loss of activity. As used herein, “functional activity” refers to a pharmacologic effect or biological activity, such as the ability to bind a receptor or ligand, or an enzymatic activity, or to display one or more known functional activities associated with a GP, as known in the art. A GP that degrades or aggregates generally has reduced functional activity or reduced bioavailability compared to one that remains in solution. Factors that contribute to the ability of the method to extend the shelf life of GPs when incorporated into a fusion protein include the increased water solubility, reduced self-aggregation in solution, and increased heat stability of the XTEN fusion partner. In particular, the low tendency of XTEN to aggregate facilitates methods of formulating pharmaceutical preparations containing higher drug concentrations of GPs, and the heat-stability of XTEN contributes to the property of GPXTEN fusion proteins to remain soluble and functionally active for extended periods. In one embodiment, the method results in GPXTEN fusion proteins with “prolonged” or “extended” shelf-life that exhibit greater activity relative to a standard that has been subjected to the same storage and handling conditions. The standard may be the un-fused full-length GP. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of formulating the isolated GPXTEN with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients that enhance the ability of the XTEN to retain its unstructured conformation and for the GPXTEN to remain soluble in the formulation for a time that is greater than that of the corresponding un-fused GP. In one embodiment, the method comprises linking a GP to one or more XTEN to create a GPXTEN fusion protein results in a solution that retains greater than about 100% of the functional activity, or greater than about 105%, 110%, 120%, 130%, 150% or 200% of the functional activity of a standard when compared at a given time point and when subjected to the same storage and handling conditions as the standard, thereby enhancing its shelf-life.

Shelf-life may also be assessed in terms of functional activity remaining after storage, normalized to functional activity when storage began. GPXTEN fusion proteins of the invention with prolonged or extended shelf-life as exhibited by prolonged or extended functional activity may retain about 50% more functional activity, or about 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% more of the functional activity of the equivalent GP not linked to XTEN when subjected to the same conditions for the same period of time. For example, a GPXTEN fusion protein of the invention comprising exendin-4 fused to one or more XTEN sequences may retain about 80% or more of its original activity in solution for periods of up to 2 weeks, or 4 weeks, or 6 weeks or longer under various temperature conditions. In some embodiments, the GPXTEN retains at least about 50%, or about 60%, or at least about 70%, or at least about 80%, and most preferably at least about 90% or more of its original activity in solution when heated at 80° C. for 10 min. In other embodiments, the GPXTEN retains at least about 50%, preferably at least about 60%, or at least about 70%, or at least about 80%, or alternatively at least about 90% or more of its original activity in solution when heated or maintained at 37° C. for about 7 days. In another embodiment, GPXTEN fusion protein retains at least about 80% or more of its functional activity after exposure to a temperature of about 30° C. to about 70° C. over a period of time of about one hour to about 18 hours. In the foregoing embodiments hereinabove described in this paragraph, the retained activity of the GPXTEN would be at least about two-fold, or at least about three-fold fold, or at least about four-fold, or at least about five-fold, or at least about six-fold greater at a given time point than that of the corresponding GP not linked to the fusion protein.

VII) The Nucleic Acids Sequences of the Invention

The present invention provides isolated polynucleic acids encoding GPXTEN chimeric fusion proteins and sequences complementary to polynucleic acid molecules encoding GPXTEN chimeric fusion proteins, including homologous variants thereof. In another aspect, the invention encompasses methods to produce polynucleic acids encoding GPXTEN chimeric fusion proteins and sequences complementary to polynucleic acid molecules encoding GPXTEN chimeric fusion protein, including homologous variants thereof. In general, and as illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, the methods of producing a polynucleotide sequence coding for a GPXTEN fusion protein and expressing the resulting gene product include assembling nucleotides encoding GP and XTEN, ligating the components in frame, incorporating the encoding gene into an expression vector appropriate for and that can be recognized by a host cell, transforming the appropriate host cell with the expression vector, and culturing the host cell under conditions causing or permitting the fusion protein to be expressed in the transformed host cell, thereby producing the biologically-active GPXTEN polypeptide, which can be recovered as an isolated fusion protein by standard protein purification methods known in the art. Standard recombinant techniques in molecular biology can be used to make the polynucleotides and expression vectors of the present invention, and can be applied in the methods to create the polynucleotides, genes and expression vectors encoding the GPXTEN disclosed herein.

In accordance with the invention, nucleic acid sequences that encode GPXTEN (or its complement) may be used to generate recombinant DNA molecules that direct the expression of GPXTEN fusion proteins in appropriate host cells. Several cloning strategies are envisioned to be suitable for performing the present invention, many of which can be used to generate a construct that comprises a gene coding for a fusion protein of the GPXTEN composition of the present invention, or its complement. In some cases, the cloning strategy would be used to create a gene that encodes a monomeric GPXTEN that comprises at least a first GP and at least a first XTEN polypeptide, or their complement. In one embodiment of the foregoing, the gene would comprise a sequence encoding a GP or sequence variant. In other cases, the cloning strategy would be used to create a gene that encodes a monomeric GPXTEN that comprises nucleotides encoding at least a first molecule of GP or its complement and a first and at least a second XTEN or their complement that would be used to transform a host cell for expression of the fusion protein of the GPXTEN composition. In the foregoing embodiments hereinabove described in this paragraph, the genes can further comprise nucleotides encoding spacer sequences that may also encode cleavage sequence(s).

In designing a desired XTEN sequences, it was discovered that the non-repetitive nature of the XTEN of the inventive compositions can be achieved despite use of a “building block” molecular approach in the creation of the XTEN-encoding sequences. This was achieved by the use of a library of polynucleotides encoding peptide sequence motifs, described above, that are then ligated and/or multimerized to create the genes encoding the XTEN sequences (see FIGS. 4 and 5 and Examples). Thus, while the XTEN(s) of the expressed fusion protein may consist of multiple units of as few as four different sequence motifs, because the motifs themselves consist of non-repetitive amino acid sequences, the overall XTEN sequence is rendered non-repetitive. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the XTEN-encoding polynucleotides comprise multiple polynucleotides that encode non-repetitive sequences, or motifs, operably linked in frame and in which the resulting expressed XTEN amino acid sequences are non-repetitive.

In one approach, a construct is first prepared containing the DNA sequence corresponding to GPXTEN fusion protein. DNA encoding the GP of the compositions may be obtained from a cDNA library prepared using standard methods from tissue or isolated cells believed to possess GP mRNA and to express it at a detectable level. Libraries can be screened with probes containing, for example, about 20 to 100 bases designed to identify the GP gene of interest by hybridization using conventional molecular biology techniques. The best candidates for probes are those that represent sequences that are highly homologous for the given glucose regulating peptide, and should be of sufficient length and sufficiently unambiguous that false positives are minimized, but may be degenerate at one or more positions. If necessary, the coding sequence can be obtained using conventional primer extension procedures as described in Sambrook, et al., supra, to detect precursors and processing intermediates of mRNA that may not have been reverse-transcribed into cDNA. One can then use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology to amplify the target DNA or RNA coding sequence to obtain sufficient material for the preparation of the GPXTEN constructs containing the GP gene(s). Assays can then be conducted to confirm that hybridizing full-length genes are the desired GP gene(s). By these conventional methods, DNA can be conveniently obtained from a cDNA library prepared from such sources. The GP encoding gene(s) may also be obtained from a genomic library or created by standard synthetic procedures known in the art (e.g., automated nucleic acid synthesis using, for example one of the methods described in Engels et al. (Agnew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 28:716-734 1989)), using DNA sequences obtained from publicly available databases, patents, or literature references. Such procedures are well known in the art and well described in the scientific and patent literature. For example, sequences can be obtained from Chemical Abstracts Services (CAS) Registry Numbers (published by the American Chemical Society) and/or GenBank Accession Numbers (e.g., Locus ID, NP_XXXXX, and XP_XXXXX) Model Protein identifiers available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) webpage, available on the world wide web at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov that correspond to entries in the CAS Registry or GenBank database that contain an amino acid sequence of the protein of interest or of a fragment or variant of the protein. For such sequence identifiers provided herein, the summary pages associated with each of these CAS and GenBank and GenSeq Accession Numbers as well as the cited journal publications (e.g., PubMed ID number (PMID)) are each incorporated by reference in their entireties, particularly with respect to the amino acid sequences described therein. In one embodiment, the GP encoding gene encodes a protein from any one of Tables 1-3, or a fragment or variant thereof.

A gene or polynucleotide encoding the GP portion of the subject GPXTEN protein, in the case of an expressed fusion protein that will comprise a single GP can be then be cloned into a construct, which can be a plasmid or other vector under control of appropriate transcription and translation sequences for high level protein expression in a biological system. In a later step, a second gene or polynucleotide coding for the XTEN is genetically fused to the nucleotides encoding the N- and/or C-terminus of the GP gene by cloning it into the construct adjacent and in frame with the gene(s) coding for the GP. This second step can occur through a ligation or multimerization step. In the foregoing embodiments hereinabove described in this paragraph, it is to be understood that the gene constructs that are created can alternatively be the complement of the respective genes that encode the respective fusion proteins.

The gene encoding for the XTEN can be made in one or more steps, either fully synthetically or by synthesis combined with enzymatic processes, such as restriction enzyme-mediated cloning, PCR and overlap extension, including methods more fully described in the Examples. The methods disclosed herein can be used, for example, to ligate short sequences of polynucleotides encoding XTEN into longer XTEN genes of a desired length and sequence. In one embodiment, the method ligates two or more codon-optimized oligonucleotides encoding XTEN motif or segment sequences of about 9 to 14 amino acids, or about 12 to 20 amino acids, or about 18 to 36 amino acids, or about 48 to about 144 amino acids, or about 144 to about 288 or longer, or any combination of the foregoing ranges of motif or segment lengths.

Alternatively, the disclosed method can be used to multimerize XTEN-encoding sequences into longer sequences of a desired length; e.g., a gene encoding 36 amino acids of XTEN can be dimerized into a gene encoding 72 amino acids, then 144, then 288, etc. Even with multimerization, XTEN polypeptides can be constructed such that the XTEN-encoding gene has low or virtually no repetitiveness through design of the codons selected for the motifs of the shortest unit used, which can reduce recombination and increase stability of the encoding gene in the transformed host. Genes encoding XTEN with non-repetitive sequences can be assembled from oligonucleotides using standard techniques of gene synthesis. The gene design can be performed using algorithms that optimize codon usage and amino acid composition. In one method of the invention, a library of relatively short XTEN-encoding polynucleotide constructs is created and then assembled, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. This can be a pure codon library such that each library member has the same amino acid sequence but many different coding sequences are possible. Such libraries can be assembled from partially randomized oligonucleotides and used to generate large libraries of XTEN segments comprising the sequence motifs. The randomization scheme can be optimized to control amino acid choices for each position as well as codon usage. Exemplary methods to achieve the foregoing are disclosed in the Examples.

a. Polynucleotide Libraries

In another aspect, the invention provides libraries of polynucleotides that encode XTEN sequences that can be used to assemble genes that encode XTEN of a desired length and sequence.

In certain embodiments, the XTEN-encoding library constructs comprise polynucleotides that encode polypeptide segments of a fixed length. As an initial step, a library of oligonucleotides that encode motifs of 9-14 amino acid residues can be assembled. In a preferred embodiment, libraries of oligonucleotides that encode motifs of 12 amino acids are assembled.

The XTEN-encoding sequence segments can be dimerized or multimerized into longer encoding sequences. Dimerization or multimerization can be performed by ligation, overlap extension, PCR assembly or similar cloning techniques known in the art. This process of can be repeated multiple times until the resulting XTEN-encoding sequences have reached the organization of sequence and desired length, providing the XTEN-encoding genes. As will be appreciated, a library of polynucleotides that encodes, e.g., 12 amino acid motifs can be dimerized and/or ligated into a library of polynucleotides that encode 36 amino acids. Libraries encoding motifs of different lengths; e.g., 9-14 amino acid motifs leading to libraries encoding 27 to 42 amino acids are contemplated by the invention. In turn, the library of polynucleotides that encode 27 to 42 amino acids, and preferably 36 amino acids (as described in the Examples) can be serially dimerized into a library containing successively longer lengths of polynucleotides that encode XTEN sequences of a desired length for incorporation into the gene encoding the GPXTEN fusion protein, as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, libraries can be assembled of polynucleotides that encode amino acids that are limited to specific sequence XTEN families; e.g., AD, AE, AF, AG, AM, or AQ sequences of Table 1. In other embodiments, libraries can comprises sequences that encode two or more of the motif family sequences from Table 1. The names and sequences of representative, non-limiting polynucleotide sequences of libraries that encode 36 mers are presented in Tables 10-13, and the methods used to create them are described more fully in the Examples. In other cases, libraries that encode XTEN can be constructed from segments of polynucleotide codons linked in a randomized sequence that encode amino acids wherein at least about 80%, or at least about 90%, or at least about 91%, or at least about 92%, or at least about 93%, or at least about 94%, or at least about 95%, or at least about 97%, or at least about 98%, or at least about 99% of the codons are selected from the group consisting of codons for glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P) amino acids. The libraries can be used, in turn, for serial dimerization or ligation to achieve polynucleotide sequence libraries that encode XTEN sequences, for example, of 48, 72, 144, 288, 576, 864, 912, 923, 1318 amino acids, or up to a total length of about 3000 amino acids, as well as intermediate lengths, in which the encoded XTEN can have one or more of the properties disclosed herein, when expressed as a component of a GPXTEN fusion protein. In some cases, the polynucleotide library sequences may also include additional bases used as “sequencing islands,” described more fully below.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of representative, non-limiting steps in the assembly of a XTEN polynucleotide construct and a GPXTEN polynucleotide construct in the embodiments of the invention. Individual oligonucleotides 501 can be annealed into sequence motifs 502 such as a 12 amino acid motif (“12-mer”), which is subsequently ligated with an oligo containing BbsI, and KpnI restriction sites 503. Additional sequence motifs from a library are annealed to the 12-mer until the desired length of the XTEN gene 504 is achieved. The XTEN gene is cloned into a stuffer vector. The vector can optionally encode a Flag sequence 506 followed by a stuffer sequence that is flanked by BsaI, BbsI, and KpnI sites 507 and, in this case, a single GP gene (encoding Ex4 in this example) 508, resulting in the gene encoding a GPXTEN comprising a single GP 500. A non-exhaustive list of the XTEN names for polynucleotides encoding XTEN and precursor sequences is provided in Table 9.

TABLE 9 DNA nucleotide sequences of XTEN and precursor sequences XTEN SEQ Name DNA Nucleotide Sequence ID NO: AE48 ATGGCTGAACCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACTGAGGAAGGTACCCCGGGTAGCGGTACTGCTT 235 CTTCCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCTCCAGGTGCTTCTCCGGGCAC CAGCTCTACCGGTTCT AM48 ATGGCTGAACCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACTGAGGAAGGTGCATCCCCGGGCACCAGCTCTA 236 CCGGTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTC TGGTGCTACTGGCTCT AE144 GGTAGCGAACCGGCAACTTCCGGCTCTGAAACCCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGT 237 CTGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCTACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACCCCAGGTAGCCCGGCAGGCTCTCC GACTTCCACCGAGGAAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTAGCGAACCG GCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACCCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCTACCTCCGGCTCTGAAACTCCAGGTA GCGAACCGGCTACTTCCGGTTCTGAAACTCCAGGTACCTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGC ACCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGTCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCTACTTCTGGC TCTGAGACTCCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA AF144 GGTACTTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCCGCATCTCCAGGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTAC 238 TGCTCCAGGTACCTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCAGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACCGCTG AATCTCCTGGCCCAGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGCACCGCACCAGGTTCTACTAGCTCT ACCGCAGAATCTCCGGGTCCAGGTACTTCCCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCAGGTACCTC TACTCCGGAAAGCGGCTCCGCATCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCTGGTCCAG GTACCTCCCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCAGGTACCTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACC GCTCCAGGTACCTCCCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCACCA AE288 GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACTCCTGAGTCTGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCTACCTCCGGCTCTGA 239 GACTCCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAATCTGGTCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCTG GCTCTGAAACCCCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCTGGCCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAA CCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACCGAAGAAGGTACCTC TGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACCCCAG GTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCGACTTCCACC GAGGAAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCAACTTCTACTGAAGAAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCCGA GGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCTGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCG CTACTCCTGAATCCGGTCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAATCTGGCCCAGGTAGCGAA CCGGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCTACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACTCCAGG TAGCCCAGCAGGCTCTCCGACTTCCACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCG CACCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCTGGC TCTGAAACCCCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCTGGCCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACC GTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCA AE576 GGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCTACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGTC 240 TGGTCCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTAGCCCAGCAGGCTCTCCGA CTTCCACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACCTCTACTGAA CCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAATCTGGCCCAGGTAGCGA ACCGGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCTACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACTCCAG GTAGCCCGGCAGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAGTCC GGCCCAGGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCTGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGA GGGTAGCGCACCAGGTAGCCCAGCAGGTTCTCCTACCTCCACCGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACCGAAC CGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACTTCT GAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAGTCCGGTCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGG TACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGTCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCTACTTCTGGCTCTGAGA CTCCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAA GGTAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAATCCGGCCCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGC AACCCCGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACCGAAGAAGGTACCTCTG AAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGT ACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAGTCTGGCCCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAGGGTAGCGC TCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAG GCAGCGCTCCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAGGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACCTCTACCGAACCT TCTGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCAGGTAGCCCAGC AGGTTCTCCTACCTCCACCGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCAGGTA CCTCTGAAAGCGCAACTCCTGAGTCTGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCTACCTCCGGCTCTGAGACT CCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAATCTGGTCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCTGGCTC TGAAACCCCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCTGGCCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGT CCGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTAGCCCGGCT GGCTCTCCGACTTCCACCGAGGAAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCAACTTCTACTGAAGAAGGTAG CCCGGCAGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAGTCCGGCC CAGGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCTGAGGGCAGCGCACCA AF576 GGTTCTACTAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCTGGCCCAGGTTCCACTAGCTCTACCGCAGAATCTCC 241 GGGCCCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGTACCGCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACCGCTG AATCTCCGGGTCCAGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACTGCAGAATCTCCTGGCCCAGGTACTTCTACTCCG GAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCTCCAGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACCGCTCCAGGTACCTC TCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACTGCACCAG GTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACCGCTCCAGGTACCTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACC GCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACTGCACCAGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCTTC TGGCACCGCTCCAGGTACCTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAAT CTCCTTCTGGCACTGCACCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACTGCACCAGGTTCTACC AGCGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACTGCACCAGGTACCTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCTCCAGG TTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGTACCGCTCCAGGTACTTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGCTCCGCTT CTCCAGGTTCCACTAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCGGGTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCAGAA TCTCCTGGCCCAGGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGCTCTGCATCTCCAGGTACTTCTACCCCTGA AAGCGGTTCTGCATCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGTACCGCACCAGGTACTTCTA CCCCGGAAAGCGGCTCTGCTTCTCCAGGTACTTCTACCCCGGAAAGCGGCTCCGCATCTCCAGGT TCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGTACCGCTCCAGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGTACTGC TCCAGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGTACTGCACCAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCAGAAT CTCCTGGCCCAGGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGCTCTGCATCTCCAGGTACTTCTACCCCTGAA AGCGGTTCTGCATCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACTGCACCAGGTTCTACCAG CGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACTGCACCAGGTACCTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCTCCAGGTT CTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACTGCACCAGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACTGCA CCAGGTACCTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCTCCAGGTACTTCTCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTC TACCGCACCAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCGGGCCCAGGTACTTCTCCGAGCGGTG AATCTTCTACTGCTCCAGGTTCCACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCTGGCCCAGGTACTTCTACT CCGGAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACCGCACCAGGTTC TACTAGCTCTACTGCAGAATCTCCTGGCCCAGGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGCTCTGCATCTC CAGGTACTTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGTTCTGCATCTCCA AM875 GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGCAGCGCACCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCTACTTCCGGTTCTGA 242 AACCCCAGGTAGCCCAGCAGGTTCTCCAACTTCTACTGAAGAAGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACCGCAG AATCTCCTGGTCCAGGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGCTCTGCATCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAA TCTCCTTCTGGCACTGCACCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGTACTGCTCCAGGTACTTC TACTCCTGAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCTCCAGGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCTGCATCTCCAG GTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGCTCTGAAACCCCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCC GGCCCAGGTAGCCCGGCAGGTTCTCCGACTTCCACTGAGGAAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGA GGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAGTCCGGTCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAAC CGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCAGGTAGCCCA GCAGGTTCTCCTACCTCCACCGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCAGG TACTTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCTGAGTCCG GCCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCCGGTCCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAA GGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGC AACCCCTGAATCCGGTCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTAGCGAAC CTGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCGACCTCCACCGAGGAAGGT AGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTACTCCGGGCAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCCTC TCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCAGGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGG GTAGCGCACCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACC TCCGGTTCTGAAACTCCAGGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACTTCTACTGAGGAAGGTAGCCCGGC TGGTTCTCCGACTTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTG CAAGCGCAAGCGGCGCGCCAAGCACGGGAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGTCCGGCCCA GGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCGACTTCCACCGAGGAAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCAACTTCTAC TGAAGAAGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCTGGCCCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCGT CTGGCACCGCACCAGGTACTTCCCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCACCAGGTACCCCTGGCAGC GGTACCGCTTCTTCCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCAGGTTCTAG CCCGTCTGCATCTACCGGTACCGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGCTCTGAAACTCCAG GTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAATCCGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCTACTTCCGGCTCTGAA ACCCCAGGTTCCACCAGCTCTACTGCAGAATCTCCGGGCCCAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCAGA ATCTCCGGGTCCAGGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCTCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAA CCTCTGGCTCTGAAACTCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCCGGCTCTGAAACCCCAGGTACTTCT ACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACCGCAGAATCTCCTGGTCCAGG TACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGCTCTGCATCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACTG CACCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAG GGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACCTCTACCGAACCTTCTGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGGTAGCTCTACTCCGTC TGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCAGGTTCTAGCCCGTCTGCTTCCACTGGTACTGGCCCAGGTGCTTCCC CGGGCACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCTACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGT ACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACTCCGGAGTCTGGTCCAGGTAGCCCTGCAGGTTCTCCTACCTCCACTGA GGAAGGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCAGGTTCTAGCCCGTCTGCTTCCACTG GTACTGGCCCAGGTGCTTCCCCGGGCACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCT ACTCCGGAGTCTGGCCCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTACTTCTAC TGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA AE864 GGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCTACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGTC 243 TGGTCCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTAGCCCAGCAGGCTCTCCGA CTTCCACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACCTCTACTGAA CCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAATCTGGCCCAGGTAGCGA ACCGGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCTACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACTCCAG GTAGCCCGGCAGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAGTCC GGCCCAGGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCTGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGA GGGTAGCGCACCAGGTAGCCCAGCAGGTTCTCCTACCTCCACCGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACCGAAC CGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACTTCT GAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAGTCCGGTCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGG TACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGTCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCTACTTCTGGCTCTGAGA CTCCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAA GGTAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAATCCGGCCCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGC AACCCCGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACCGAAGAAGGTACCTCTG AAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGT ACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAGTCTGGCCCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAGGGTAGCGC TCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAG GCAGCGCTCCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAGGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACCTCTACCGAACCT TCTGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCAGGTAGCCCAGC AGGTTCTCCTACCTCCACCGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCAGGTA CCTCTGAAAGCGCAACTCCTGAGTCTGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCTACCTCCGGCTCTGAGACT CCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAATCTGGTCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCTGGCTC TGAAACCCCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCTGGCCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGT CCGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTAGCCCGGCT GGCTCTCCGACTTCCACCGAGGAAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCAACTTCTACTGAAGAAGGTAG CCCGGCAGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAGTCCGGCC CAGGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCTGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACTCCTGAG TCTGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCTACCTCCGGCTCTGAGACTCCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAAC CCCGGAATCTGGTCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACCCCAGGTACCTCTGAAA GCGCTACTCCTGAATCTGGCCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTAGC CCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACCGAAGAAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGCCC AGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGT CCGGCCCAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCGACTTCCACCGAGGAAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCA ACTTCTACTGAAGAAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTGAAAG CGCTACCCCTGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCCGGTCCAGGTACTT CTGAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAATCTGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACCCCA GGTAGCGAACCGGCTACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACTCCAGGTAGCCCAGCAGGCTCTCCGACTTCCAC TGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTG AGGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACCCCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGC GCTACTCCTGAATCTGGCCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCA AF864 GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACCGCTCCAGGTACCTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTAC 244 CGCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACTGCACCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCGT CTGGTACTGCTCCAGGTTACTTCTACTCCTGAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCTCCAGGTACCTCTACTCC GGAAAGCGGTTCTGCATCTCCAGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACCGCTCCAGGTTCTA CTAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGTACCGCACCAGGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCACCA GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACTGCTCCAGGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTAC CGCTCCAGGTACTTCCCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCAG AATCTCCGGGCCCAGGTACCTCTCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCTCCAGGTACTTCTCCGAGC GGTGAATCTTCTACCGCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCAGAATCTCCTGGCCCAGGTACCTC TACTCCGGAAAGCGGCTCTGCATCTCCAGGTACTTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGTTCTGCATCTCCAG GTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACTGCACCAGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACT GCACCAGGTACCTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCTCCAGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACCGCAGA ATCTCCTGGTCCAGGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGCTCTGCATCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAAT CTCCTTCTGGCACTGCACCAGGTACTTCTCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCACCAGGTTCTACT AGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCGGGCCCAGGTACTTCTCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCAGG TACCTCTACTCCTGAAAGCGGTTCTGCATCTCCAGGTTCCACTAGCTCTACCGCAGAATCTCCGG GCCCAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCTGGCCCAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAA TCTCCGGGTCCAGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCTGGTCCAGGTACCTCCCCGAGCGG TGAATCTTCTACTGCACCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACTGCACCAGGTTCTACCA GCGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACTGCACCAGGTACCTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGTCCXXXXXXXXXXXXT GCAAGCGCAAGCGGCGCGCCAAGCACGGGAXXXXXXXXTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGTACCGCTCC AGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGTACTGCTCCAGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGTA CTGCACCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGTACCGCTCCAGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCG TCTGGTACTGCTCCAGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGTACTGCACCAGGTACTTCTACTCC GGAAAGCGGTTCCGCATCTCCAGGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCAGGTACCT CTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCAGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCGGGTCCA GGTACTTCCCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCACCAGGTACTTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCCGC TTCTCCAGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACCGCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCGT CTGGTACCGCACCAGGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCACCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAA TCCCCGTCTGGTACCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACCCCGGAAAGCGGCTCTGCTTCTCCAGGTACTTC TACCCCGGAAAGCGGCTCCGCATCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGTACCGCTCCAG GTACTTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGCTCCGCTTCTCCAGGTTCCACTAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCG GGTCCAGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACCGCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCGTC TGGTACCGCACCAGGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCACCAGGTTCTACCAGCTCTA CTGCTGAATCTCCGGGTCCAGGTACTTCCCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCACCAGGTACTTCT ACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCTCCAGGTACCTCCCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCAGG TACCTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCTCCAGGTACCTCCCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCG CACCAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCGGGTCCAGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACTGCTGAA TCTCCTGGTCCAGGTACCTCCCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCACCAGGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGC TTCCACCGGTACCGGCCCAGGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACTGGCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTA CTCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCA XXXX was inserted in two areas where no sequence information is available. AG864 GGTGCTTCCCCGGGCACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTTCTAGCCCGTCTGCTTCTACTGGTAC 245 TGGTCCAGGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCTTCCACTGGTACTGGTCCAGGTACCCCGGGTAGCGGTACCG CTTCTTCTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCAGGTTCTAACCCTTCT GCATCCACCGGTACCGGCCCAGGTGCTTCTCCGGGCACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTACCCC GGGCAGCGGTACCGCATCTTCTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACTCCTTCTGGTGCAACTGGTTCTCCAG GTACTCCTGGCAGCGGTACCGCTTCTTCTTCTCCAGGTGCTTCTCCTGGTACTAGCTCTACTGGT TCTCCAGGTGCTTCTCCGGGCACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTACCCCGGGTAGCGGTACTGC TTCTTCCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCTCCAGGTGCTTCTCCGGGCA CCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTACCCCGGGTAGCGGTACCGCTTCTTCTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCT ACTCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCAGGTTCTAACCCTTCTGCATCCACCGGTACCGGCCCAGG TTCTAGCCCTTCTGCTTCCACCGGTACTGGCCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCTACCGGCT CCCCAGGTAGCTCTACTCCTTCTGGTGCAACTGGCTCTCCAGGTGCATCTCCGGGCACTAGCTCT ACTGGTTCTCCAGGTGCATCCCCTGGCACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTGCTTCTCCTGGTAC CAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTACTCCTGGCAGCGGTACCGCTTCTTCTTCTCCAGGTGCTTCTC CTGGTACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTGCTTCTCCGGGCACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGT GCTTCCCCGGGCACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCATCTACTGGTACTGG CCCAGGTACTCCGGGCAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCCTCTCCAGGTGCATCTCCGGGCACTAGCTCTA CTGGTTCTCCAGGTGCATCCCCTGGCACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTGCTTCTCCTGGTACC AGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGTTCCCCAGGTAGCTCTAC TCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCCCCAGGTGCATCCCCTGGCACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTA CCCCGGGCAGCGGTACCGCATCTTCCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGTTCC CCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCAGGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAAC CGGCTCCCCAGGTTCTAGCCCGTCTGCTTCCACTGGTACTGGCCCAGGTGCTTCCCCGGGCACCA GCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTGCATCCCCGGGTACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTACTCCTGGC AGCGGTACTGCATCTTCCTCTCCAGGTGCTTCTCCGGGCACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTGC ATCTCCGGGCACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTGCATCCCCTGGCACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTC CAGGTGCTTCTCCTGGTACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTACCCCTGGTAGCGGTACTGCTTCT TCCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTACCCCGGGTAGCGGTAC CGCATCTTCTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTACTCCGGGCA GCGGTACTGCTTCTTCCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCAGGTAGC TCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCCCCAGGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCATCCACCGGTACCGGTCC AGGTTCTAGCCCGTCTGCATCTACTGGTACTGGTCCAGGTGCATCCCCGGGCACTAGCTCTACCG GTTCTCCAGGTACTCCTGGTAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACTCCTTCTGGT GCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCATCCACCGGTACCGGCCCAGGTTCTAGCCCGTC TGCTTCTACCGGTACTGGTCCAGGTGCTTCTCCGGGTACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTGCAT CTCCTGGTACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCTCCA GGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCATCTACCGGTACTGGTCCAGGTGCATCCCCTGGTACCAGCTCTACCGG TTCTCCAGGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCTTCTACCGGTACCGGTCCAGGTACCCCTGGCAGCGGTACCG CATCTTCCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGTTCCCCAGGTAGCTCTACTCCT TCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCCCCAGGTGCATCCCCTGGCACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA AM923 ATGGCTGAACCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACTGAGGAAGGTGCATCCCCGGGCACCAGCTCTAC 246 CGGTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTG GTGCTACTGGCTCTCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGCAGCGCACCAGGTAGCGAACCG GCTACTTCCGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGTAGCCCAGCAGGTTCTCCAACTTCTACTGAAGAAGGTTC TACCAGCTCTACCGCAGAATCTCCTGGTCCAGGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGCTCTGCATCTC CAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACTGCACCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGT ACTGCTCCAGGTACTTCTACTCCTGAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCTCCAGGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAG CGGTTCTGCATCTCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGCTCTGAAACCCCAGGTACCTCTGAAA GCGCTACTCCTGAATCCGGCCCAGGTAGCCCGGCAGGTTCTCCGACTTCCACTGAGGAAGGTACC TCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAGTCCGGTCC AGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTA GCGCACCAGGTAGCCCAGCAGGTTCTCCTACCTCCACCGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCC GAGGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTGAAAG CGCTACCCCTGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTGCTGAATCCGGTCCAGGTACCT CTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCA GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGTCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAG CGCTCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCGA CCTCCACCGAGGAAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTACTCCGGGCAGC GGTACTGCTTCTTCCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCAGGTACCTC TACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCAG GTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACTCCAGGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACTTCTACT GAGGAAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGTTCTCCGACTTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCCGA AGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTGCAAGCGCAAGCGGCGCGCCAAGCACGGGAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTA CTCCTGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCGACTTCCACCGAGGAAGGTAGCCCGGCT GGCTCTCCAACTTCTACTGAAGAAGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCTGGCCCAGGTTC TACTAGCGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACCGCACCAGGTACTTCCCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCAC CAGGTACCCCTGGCAGCGGTACCGCTTCTTCCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACT GGCTCTCCAGGTTCTAGCCCGTCTGCATCTACCGGTACCGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTC CGGCTCTGAAACTCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAATCCGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCGG CTACTTCCGGCTCTGAAACCCCAGGTTCCACCAGCTCTACTGCAGAATCTCCGGGCCCAGGTTCT ACTAGCTCTACTGCAGAATCTCCGGGTCCAGGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCTCC AGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACTCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCCGGCTCTG AAACCCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACCGCA GAATCTCCTGGTCCAGGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGCTCTGCATCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCGA ATCTCCTTCTGGCACTGCACCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACCT CTACTGAACCTTCCGAGGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACCTCTACCGAACCTTCTGAAGGTAGCGCACCA GGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCAGGTTCTAGCCCGTCTGCTTCCACTGGTAC TGGCCCAGGTGCTTCCCCGGGCACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCTACCTCCG GTTCTGAAACCCCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACTCCGGAGTCTGGTCCAGGTAGCCCTGCAGGT TCTCCTACCTCCACTGAGGAAGGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCAGGTTCTAG CCCGTCTGCTTCCACTGGTACTGGCCCAGGTGCTTCCCCGGGCACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAG GTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAGTCTGGCCCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAGGGTAGC GCTCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA AE912 ATGGCTGAACCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACTGAGGAAGGTACCCCGGGTAGCGGTACTGCTTC 247 TTCCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCTCCAGGTGCTTCTCCGGGCACCA GCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCTACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTGAA AGCGCTACTCCTGAGTCTGGTCCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTAG CCCAGCAGGCTCTCCGACTTCCACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCAC CAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAA TCTGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCTACCTC CGGTTCTGAAACTCCAGGTAGCCCGGCAGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTGAAA GCGCAACCCCGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCTGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACT TCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCAGGTAGCCCAGCAGGTTCTCCTACCTCCACCGAGGA AGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCA GCGCTCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAGTCCGGTCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCC GAAGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGTCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGC TACTTCTGGCTCTGAGACTCCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACTT CTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAATCCGGCCCA GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCAC CGAAGAAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCG GTTCTGAAACCCCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAGTCTGGCCCAGGTACCTCTACTGAA CCGTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACTTC TACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAGGGCAGCGCTCCAG GTACCTCTACCGAACCTTCTGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGC GCACCAGGTAGCCCAGCAGGTTCTCCTACCTCCACCGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGA GGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACTCCTGAGTCTGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCTA CCTCCGGCTCTGAGACTCCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAATCTGGTCCAGGTAGCGAA CCTGCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACCCCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCTGGCCCAGG TACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGTCCG GCCCAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCGACTTCCACCGAGGAAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCAACT TCTACTGAAGAAGGTAGCCCGGCAGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGC AACCCCGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCTGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACCTCTG AAAGCGCAACTCCTGAGTCTGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCTACCTCCGGCTCTGAGACTCCAGGT ACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAATCTGGTCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAAC CCCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCTGGCCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAGG GCAGCGCACCAGGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACCGAAGAAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCA ACCCCTGAATCCGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGTACTTCTGA AAGCGCTACTCCTGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCGACTTCCACCGAGGAAGGTA GCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCAACTTCTACTGAAGAAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAGGGCAGCGCA CCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCTGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGA ATCCGGTCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAATCTGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCTACTT CTGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCTACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACTCCAGGTAGCCCAGCA GGCTCTCCGACTTCCACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCACCAGGTAC CTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACCC CAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCTGGCCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAGGGC AGCGCACCA AM1318 GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGCAGCGCACCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCTACTTCCGGTTCTGA 248 AACCCCAGGTAGCCCAGCAGGTTCTCCAACTTCTACTGAAGAAGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACCGCAG AATCTCCTGGTCCAGGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGCTCTGCATCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAA TCTCCTTCTGGCACTGCACCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGTACTGCTCCAGGTACTTC TACTCCTGAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCTCCAGGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCTGCATCTCCAG GTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGCTCTGAAACCCCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCC GGCCCAGGTAGCCCGGCAGGTTCTCCGACTTCCACTGAGGAAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGA GGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAGTCCGGTCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAAC CGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCAGGTAGCCCA GCAGGTTCTCCTACCTCCACCGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCAGG TACTTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCTGAGTCCG GCCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCCGGTCCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAA GGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGC AACCCCTGAATCCGGTCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTAGCGAAC CTGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCGACCTCCACCGAGGAAGGT AGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTACTCCGGGCAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCCTC TCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCAGGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGG GTAGCGCACCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACC TCCGGTTCTGAAACTCCAGGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACTTCTACTGAGGAAGGTAGCCCGGC TGGTTCTCCGACTTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTC CAGAACCAACGGGGCCGGCCCCAAGCGGAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGCTCTGAAACCCCA GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCCGGCCCAGGTAGCCCGGCAGGTTCTCCGACTTCCAC TGAGGAAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCGA CTTCCACCGAGGAAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCAACTTCTACTGAAGAAGGTACTTCTGAAAGC GCTACTCCTGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCGACTTCCACCGAGGAAGGTAGCCC GGCTGGCTCTCCAACTTCTACTGAAGAAGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCTGGCCCAG GTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACCGCACCAGGTACTTCCCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACT GCACCAGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACCGCTCCAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCGTC TGGTACCGCACCAGGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACCGAAC CTTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCTGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTACTTCT GAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCCGGTCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACCCCAGG TACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAATCTGGTCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAATCCG GTCCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCG GAGTCCGGTCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGGTACCTCCCCTAGCGG CGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCAGGTACCTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCTCCAGGTACCTCCC CTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCAGGT AGCCCAGCAGGTTCTCCTACCTCCACCGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGC ACCAGGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCTTCCACCGGTACCGGCCCAGGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAA CTGGCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCT GGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCAGGTGCATCCCC GGGTACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTGCAAGCGCAAGCGGCGCGCCAAGCACGGGAGGTACTT CTCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCACCAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCGGGCCCA GGTACTTCTCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAGTC TGGCCCAGGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCG AAGGTAGCGCACCAGGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCATCTACTGGTACTGGCCCAGGTAGCTCTACTCCT TCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCAGGTGCTTCTCCGGGTACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTACTTC TACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCCGCATCTCCAGGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCAG GTACCTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCC GGTCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCTACTTCTGGCTCTGAGACTCCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGA AGGTAGCGCACCAGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGTACTGCTCCAGGTTCTACCAGCGAAT CCCCTTCTGGCACCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGCTCCGCTTCTCCAGGTAGCCCG GCAGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAGTCCGGCCCAGG TACCTCTACCGAACCGTCTGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACCG AAGAAGGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGCCCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGT TCTGAAACCCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGTTCCCCAGGTGCTTCTCCTGGTAC TAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCAGGTTCTACTA GCGAATCCCCGTCTGGTACTGCTCCAGGTACTTCCCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCAGGT TCTACCAGCTCTACCGCAGAATCTCCGGGTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTC TCCAGGTGCATCCCCGGGTACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTACTCCGGGTAGCGGTACCGCTT CTTCCTCTCCAGGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACTTCTACTGAGGAAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGTTCT CCGACTTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA BC864 GGTACTTCCACCGAACCATCCGAACCAGGTAGCGCAGGTACTTCCACCGAACCATCCGAACCTGG 249 CAGCGCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCTGGTACTGAACCATCAGGTAGCGGCGCATCCGAGCCTA CCTCTACTGAACCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCTACCTCCGGTACTGAGCCATCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCA ACTTCCGGTACTGAACCATCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACTTCCGGCACTGAACCATCAGGTAGCGG TGCATCTGAGCCGACCTCTACTGAACCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCATCTGAGCCGGGCAGCGCAG GTAGCGAACCAGCTACTTCTGGCACTGAACCATCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCATCCGAACCAGGT AGCGCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCTACCTCTGGTACTGAGCCATCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCTACCTCTGG TACTGAACCATCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCATCCGAGCCTGGTAGCGCAGGTACTTCTACCGAAC CATCCGAGCCAGGCAGCGCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCTGGCACTGAGCCATCAGGTAGCGAA CCAGCAACTTCTGGTACTGAACCATCAGGTACTAGCGAGCCATCTACTTCCGAACCAGGTGCAGG TAGCGGCGCATCCGAACCTACTTCCACTGAACCAGGTACTAGCGAGCCATCCACCTCTGAACCAG GTGCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACTTCCGGCACTGAACCATCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCTACCTCTGGT ACTGAACCATCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCATCCGAGCCTGGTAGCGCAGGTACTTCTACCGAACC ATCCGAGCCAGGCAGCGCAGGTAGCGGTGCATCCGAGCCGACCTCTACTGAACCAGGTAGCGAAC CAGCAACTTCTGGCACTGAGCCATCAGGTAGCGAACCAGCTACCTCTGGTACTGAACCATCAGGT AGCGAACCGGCTACTTCCGGCACTGAACCATCAGGTAGCGAACCAGCAACCTCCGGTACTGAACC ATCAGGTACTTCCACTGAACCATCCGAACCGGGTAGCGCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACTTCCGGCA CTGAACCATCAGGTAGCGGTGCATCTGAGCCGACCTCTACTGAACCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCA TCTGAGCCGGGCAGCGCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCCGGCACTGAGCCATCAGGTAGCGGCGC ATCTGAACCAACCTCTACTGAACCAGGTACTTCCACCGAACCATCTGAGCCAGGCAGCGCAGGTA GCGGCGCATCTGAACCAACCTCTACTGAACCAGGTAGCGAACCAGCAACTTCTGGTACTGAACCA TCAGGTAGCGGCGCATCTGAGCCTACTTCCACTGAACCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACTTCCGGCAC TGAACCATCAGGTAGCGGTGCATCTGAGCCGACCTCTACTGAACCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCAT CTGAGCCGGGCAGCGCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACTTCCGGCACTGAACCATCAGGTAGCGGTGCA TCTGAGCCGACCTCTACTGAACCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCATCTGAGCCGGGCAGCGCAGGTAG CGAACCAGCTACTTCTGGCACTGAACCATCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCATCCGAACCAGGTAGCG CAGGTAGCGAACCTGCTACCTCTGGTACTGAGCCATCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCATCCGAGCCG GGTAGCGCAGGTACTTCCACTGAACCATCTGAACCTGGTAGCGCAGGTACTTCCACTGAACCATC CGAACCAGGTAGCGCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCATCCGAGCCGGGTAGCGCAGGTACTTCCACTG AACCATCTGAACCTGGTAGCGCAGGTACTTCCACTGAACCATCCGAACCAGGTAGCGCAGGTACT AGCGAACCATCCACCTCCGAACCAGGCGCAGGTAGCGGTGCATCTGAACCGACTTCTACTGAACC AGGTACTTCCACTGAACCATCTGAGCCAGGTAGCGCAGGTACTTCCACCGAACCATCCGAACCAG GTAGCGCAGGTACTTCCACCGAACCATCCGAACCTGGCAGCGCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCT GGTACTGAACCATCAGGTAGCGGTGCATCCGAGCCGACCTCTACTGAACCAGGTAGCGAACCAGC AACTTCTGGCACTGAGCCATCAGGTAGCGAACCAGCTACCTCTGGTACTGAACCATCAGGTAGCG AACCGGCAACCTCTGGCACTGAGCCATCAGGTAGCGAACCAGCAACTTCTGGTACTGAACCATCA GGTACTAGCGAGCCATCTACTTCCGAACCAGGTGCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCCGGCACTGA GCCATCAGGTAGCGGCGCATCTGAACCAACCTCTACTGAACCAGGTACTTCCACCGAACCATCTG AGCCAGGCAGCGCAGGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCCGGCACTGAGCCATCAGGTAGCGGCGCATCT GAACCAACCTCTACTGAACCAGGTACTTCCACCGAACCATCTGAGCCAGGCAGCGCA BD864 GGTAGCGAAACTGCTACTTCCGGCTCTGAGACTGCAGGTACTAGTGAATCCGCAACTAGCGAATC 250 TGGCGCAGGTAGCACTGCAGGCTCTGAGACTTCCACTGAAGCAGGTACTAGCGAGTCCGCAACCA GCGAATCCGGCGCAGGTAGCGAAACTGCTACCTCTGGCTCCGAGACTGCAGGTAGCGAAACTGCA ACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACTGCAGGTACTTCCACTGAAGCAAGTGAAGGCTCCGCATCAGGTACTTC CACCGAAGCAAGCGAAGGCTCCGCATCAGGTACTAGTGAGTCCGCAACTAGCGAATCCGGTGCAG GTAGCGAAACCGCTACCTCTGGTTCCGAAACTGCAGGTACTTCTACCGAGGCTAGCGAAGGTTCT GCATCAGGTAGCACTGCTGGTTCCGAGACTTCTACTGAAGCAGGTACTAGCGAATCTGCTACTAG CGAATCCGGCGCAGGTACTAGCGAATCCGCTACCAGCGAATCCGGCGCAGGTAGCGAAACTGCAA CCTCTGGTTCCGAGACTGCAGGTACTAGCGAGTCCGCTACTAGCGAATCTGGCGCAGGTACTTCC ACTGAAGCTAGTGAAGGTTCTGCATCAGGTAGCGAAACTGCTACTTCTGGTTCCGAAACTGCAGG TAGCGAAACCGCTACCTCTGGTTCCGAAACTGCAGGTACTTCTACCGAGGCTAGCGAAGGTTCTG CATCAGGTAGCACTGCTGGTTCCGAGACTTCTACTGAAGCAGGTACTAGCGAGTCCGCTACTAGC GAATCTGGCGCAGGTACTTCCACTGAAGCTAGTGAAGGTTCTGCATCAGGTAGCGAAACTGCTAC TTCTGGTTCCGAAACTGCAGGTAGCACTGCTGGCTCCGAGACTTCTACCGAAGCAGGTAGCACTG CAGGTTCCGAAACTTCCACTGAAGCAGGTAGCGAAACTGCTACCTCTGGCTCTGAGACTGCAGGT ACTAGCGAATCTGCTACTAGCGAATCCGGCGCAGGTACTAGCGAATCCGCTACCAGCGAATCCGG CGCAGGTAGCGAAACTGCAACCTCTGGTTCCGAGACTGCAGGTACTAGCGAATCTGCTACTAGCG AATCCGGCGCAGGTACTAGCGAATCCGCTACCAGCGAATCCGGCGCAGGTAGCGAAACTGCAACC TCTGGTTCCGAGACTGCAGGTAGCGAAACCGCTACCTCTGGTTCCGAAACTGCAGGTACTTCTAC CGAGGCTAGCGAAGGTTCTGCATCAGGTAGCACTGCTGGTTCCGAGACTTCTACTGAAGCAGGTA GCGAAACTGCTACTTCCGGCTCTGAGACTGCAGGTACTAGTGAATCCGCAACTAGCGAATCTGGC GCAGGTAGCACTGCAGGCTCTGAGACTTCCACTGAAGCAGGTAGCACTGCTGGTTCCGAAACCTC TACCGAAGCAGGTAGCACTGCAGGTTCTGAAACCTCCACTGAAGCAGGTACTTCCACTGAGGCTA GTGAAGGCTCTGCATCAGGTAGCACTGCTGGTTCCGAAACCTCTACCGAAGCAGGTAGCACTGCA GGTTCTGAAACCTCCACTGAAGCAGGTACTTCCACTGAGGCTAGTGAAGGCTCTGCATCAGGTAG CACTGCAGGTTCTGAGACTTCCACCGAAGCAGGTAGCGAAACTGCTACTTCTGGTTCCGAAACTG CAGGTACTTCCACTGAAGCTAGTGAAGGTTCCGCATCAGGTACTAGTGAGTCCGCAACCAGCGAA TCCGGCGCAGGTAGCGAAACCGCAACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACTGCAGGTACTAGCGAATCCGCAAC CAGCGAATCTGGCGCAGGTACTAGTGAGTCCGCAACCAGCGAATCCGGCGCAGGTAGCGAAACCG CAACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACTGCAGGTACTAGCGAATCCGCAACCAGCGAATCTGGCGCAGGTAGC GAAACTGCTACTTCCGGCTCTGAGACTGCAGGTACTTCCACCGAAGCAAGCGAAGGTTCCGCATC AGGTACTTCCACCGAGGCTAGTGAAGGCTCTGCATCAGGTAGCACTGCTGGCTCCGAGACTTCTA CCGAAGCAGGTAGCACTGCAGGTTCCGAAACTTCCACTGAAGCAGGTAGCGAAACTGCTACCTCT GGCTCTGAGACTGCAGGTACTAGCGAATCTGCTACTAGCGAATCCGGCGCAGGTACTAGCGAATC CGCTACCAGCGAATCCGGCGCAGGTAGCGAAACTGCAACCTCTGGTTCCGAGACTGCAGGTAGCG AAACTGCTACTTCCGGCTCCGAGACTGCAGGTAGCGAAACTGCTACTTCTGGCTCCGAAACTGCA GGTACTTCTACTGAGGCTAGTGAAGGTTCCGCATCAGGTACTAGCGAGTCCGCAACCAGCGAATC CGGCGCAGGTAGCGAAACTGCTACCTCTGGCTCCGAGACTGCAGGTAGCGAAACTGCAACCTCTG GCTCTGAAACTGCAGGTACTAGCGAATCTGCTACTAGCGAATCCGGCGCAGGTACTAGCGAATCC GCTACCAGCGAATCCGGCGCAGGTAGCGAAACTGCAACCTCTGGTTCCGAGACTGCA

One may clone the library of XTEN-encoding genes into one or more expression vectors known in the art. To facilitate the identification of well-expressing library members, one can construct the library as fusion to a reporter protein. Non-limiting examples of suitable reporter genes are green fluorescent protein, luciferace, alkaline phosphatase, and beta-galactosidase. By screening, one can identify short XTEN sequences that can be expressed in high concentration in the host organism of choice. Subsequently, one can generate a library of random XTEN dimers and repeat the screen for high level of expression. Subsequently, one can screen the resulting constructs for a number of properties such as level of expression, protease stability, or binding to antiserum.

One aspect of the invention is to provide polynucleotide sequences encoding the components of the fusion protein wherein the creation of the sequence has undergone codon optimization. Of particular interest is codon optimization with the goal of improving expression of the polypeptide compositions and to improve the genetic stability of the encoding gene in the production hosts. For example, codon optimization is of particular importance for XTEN sequences that are rich in glycine or that have very repetitive amino acid sequences. Codon optimization can be performed using computer programs (Gustafsson, C., et al. (2004) Trends Biotechnol, 22: 346-53), some of which minimize ribosomal pausing (Coda Genomics Inc.). In one embodiment, one can perform codon optimization by constructing codon libraries where all members of the library encode the same amino acid sequence but where codon usage is varied. Such libraries can be screened for highly expressing and genetically stable members that are particularly suitable for the large-scale production of XTEN-containing products. When designing XTEN sequences one can consider a number of properties. One can minimize the repetitiveness in the encoding DNA sequences. In addition, one can avoid or minimize the use of codons that are rarely used by the production host (e.g. the AGG and AGA arginine codons and one leucine codon in E. coli). In the case of E. coli, two glycine codons, GGA and GGG, are rarely used in highly expressed proteins. Thus codon optimization of the gene encoding XTEN sequences can be very desirable. DNA sequences that have a high level of glycine tend to have a high GC content that can lead to instability or low expression levels. Thus, when possible, it is preferred to choose codons such that the GC-content of XTEN-encoding sequence is suitable for the production organism that will be used to manufacture the XTEN.

Optionally, the full-length XTEN-encoding gene may comprise one or more sequencing islands. In this context, sequencing islands are short-stretch sequences that are distinct from the XTEN library construct sequences and that include a restriction site not present or expected to be present in the full-length XTEN-encoding gene. In one embodiment, a sequencing island is the sequence

(SEQ ID NO: 251) 5′-AGGTGCAAGCGCAAGCGGCGCGCCAAGCACGGGAGGT-3′. In another embodiment, a sequencing island is the sequence

(SEQ ID NO: 252) 5′-AGGTCCAGAACCAACGGGGCCGGCCCCAAGCGGAGGT-3′.

As an alternative, one can construct codon libraries where all members of the library encode the same amino acid sequence but where codon usage for the respective amino acids in the sequence is varied. Such libraries can be screened for highly expressing and genetically stable members that are particularly suitable for the large-scale production of XTEN-containing products.

Optionally, one can sequence clones in the library to eliminate isolates that contain undesirable sequences. The initial library of short XTEN sequences can allow some variation in amino acid sequence. For instance one can randomize some codons such that a number of hydrophilic amino acids can occur in a particular position. During the process of iterative multimerization one can screen the resulting library members for other characteristics like solubility or protease resistance in addition to a screen for high-level expression.

Once the gene that encodes the XTEN of desired length and properties is selected, the method provides that it can be genetically fused to the nucleotides encoding the N- and/or the C-terminus of the GP gene(s) by cloning it into the construct adjacent and in frame with the gene coding for GP or, optionally, adjacent to a spacer sequence. The invention provides various permutations of the foregoing, depending on the GPXTEN to be encoded. For example, a gene encoding a GPXTEN fusion protein comprising a GP and two XTEN, such as embodied by formula VI, as depicted above, the gene would have polynucleotides encoding GP, encoding two XTEN, which can be identical or different in composition and sequence length. In one non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing, the GP polynucleotides would encode exendin-4 and the polynucleotides encoding the N-terminus XTEN would encode AE912 and the polynucleotides encoding the C-terminus XTEN would encode AE144. The step of cloning the GP genes into the XTEN construct can occur through a ligation or multimerization step. As shown in FIG. 2, the constructs encoding GPXTEN fusion proteins can be designed in different configurations of the components XTEN 202, GP 203, and spacer sequences 204. In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the construct comprises polynucleotide sequences complementary to, or those that encode a monomeric polypeptide of components in the following order (5′ to 3′) GP 203 and XTEN 202, or the reverse order. In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, the construct comprises polynucleotide sequences complementary to, or those that encode a monomeric polypeptide of components in the following order (5′ to 3′) GP 203, spacer sequence 204, and XTEN 202, or the reverse order. In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2C, the construct 201 encodes a monomeric GPXTEN comprising polynucleotide sequences complementary to, or those that encode components in the following order (5′ to 3′): two molecules of GP 203 and XTEN 202, or the reverse order. In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2D, the construct comprises polynucleotide sequences complementary to, or those that encode a monomeric polypeptide of components in the following order (5′ to 3′): two molecules of GP 203, spacer sequence 204, and XTEN 202, or the reverse order. In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2E, the construct comprises polynucleotide sequences complementary to, or those that encode a monomeric polypeptide of components in the following order (5′ to 3′): GP 203, spacer sequence 204, a second molecule of GP 203, and XTEN 202, or the reverse order. In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2F, the construct comprises polynucleotide sequences complementary to, or those that encode a monomeric polypeptide of components in the following order (5′ to 3′): GP 203, XTEN 202, GP 203, and a second XTEN 202, or the reverse sequence. The spacer polynucleotides can optionally comprise sequences encoding cleavage sequences. As will be apparent to those of skill in the art, other permutations of the foregoing are possible.

The invention also encompasses polynucleotides comprising XTEN-encoding polynucleotide variants that have a high percentage of sequence identity to (a) a polynucleotide sequence from Table 9, or (b) sequences that are complementary to the polynucleotides of (a). A polynucleotide with a high percentage of sequence identity is one that has at least about an 80% nucleic acid sequence identity, alternatively at least about 81%, alternatively at least about 82%, alternatively at least about 83%, alternatively at least about 84%, alternatively at least about 85%, alternatively at least about 86%, alternatively at least about 87%, alternatively at least about 88%, alternatively at least about 89%, alternatively at least about 90%, alternatively at least about 91%, alternatively at least about 92%, alternatively at least about 93%, alternatively at least about 94%, alternatively at least about 95%, alternatively at least about 96%, alternatively at least about 97%, alternatively at least about 98%, and alternatively at least about 99% nucleic acid sequence identity to (a) or (b) of the foregoing, or that can hybridize with the target polynucleotide or its complement under stringent conditions.

Homology, sequence similarity or sequence identity of nucleotide or amino acid sequences may also be determined conventionally by using known software or computer programs such as the BestFit or Gap pairwise comparison programs (GCG Wisconsin Package, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Drive, Madison, Wis. 53711). BestFit uses the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman (Advances in Applied Mathematics. 1981. 2: 482-489), to find the best segment of identity or similarity between two sequences. Gap performs global alignments: all of one sequence with all of another similar sequence using the method of Needleman and Wunsch, (Journal of Molecular Biology. 1970. 48:443-453). When using a sequence alignment program such as BestFit, to determine the degree of sequence homology, similarity or identity, the default setting may be used, or an appropriate scoring matrix may be selected to optimize identity, similarity or homology scores.

Nucleic acid sequences that are “complementary” are those that are capable of base-pairing according to the standard Watson-Crick complementarity rules. As used herein, the term “complementary sequences” means nucleic acid sequences that are substantially complementary, as may be assessed by the same nucleotide comparison set forth above, or as defined as being capable of hybridizing to the polynucleotides that encode the GPXTEN sequences under stringent conditions, such as those described herein.

The resulting polynucleotides encoding the GPXTEN chimeric fusion proteins can then be individually cloned into an expression vector. The nucleic acid sequence may be inserted into the vector by a variety of procedures. In general, DNA is inserted into an appropriate restriction endonuclease site(s) using techniques known in the art. Vector components generally include, but are not limited to, one or more of a signal sequence, an origin of replication, one or more marker genes, an enhancer element, a promoter, and a transcription termination sequence. Construction of suitable vectors containing one or more of these components employs standard ligation techniques which are known to the skilled artisan. Such techniques are well known in the art and well described in the scientific and patent literature.

Various vectors are publicly available. The vector may, for example, be in the form of a plasmid, cosmid, viral particle, or phage. The invention provides for the use of plasmid vectors containing replication and control sequences that are compatible with and recognized by the host cell, and are operably linked to the GPXTEN gene for controlled expression of the GPXTEN fusion proteins. The vector ordinarily carries a replication site, as well as sequences that encode proteins that are capable of providing phenotypic selection in transformed cells. For example, E. coli may be transformed using pBR322, a plasmid derived from an E. coli species (Mandel et al., J Mol. Biol., 53: 154 (1970)). Plasmid pBR322 contains genes for ampicillin and tetracycline resistance and thus provides easy means for selection. Such vector sequences are well known for a variety of bacteria, yeast, and viruses. Useful expression vectors that can be used include, for example, segments of chromosomal, non-chromosomal and synthetic DNA sequences. “Expression vector” refers to a DNA construct containing a DNA sequence that is operably linked to a suitable control sequence capable of effecting the expression of the DNA encoding the fusion protein in a suitable host. Such control sequences include a promoter to effect transcription, an optional operator sequence to control such transcription, a sequence encoding suitable mRNA ribosome binding sites, and sequences that control termination of transcription and translation. Other suitable vectors include, but are not limited to, derivatives of SV40 and pcDNA and known bacterial plasmids such as col EI, pCR1, pBR322, pMal-C2, pET, pGEX as described by Smith, et al., Gene 57:31-40 (1988), pMB9 and derivatives thereof, plasmids such as RP4, phage DNAs such as the numerous derivatives of phage I such as NM98 9, as well as other phage DNA such as M13 and filamentous single stranded phage DNA; yeast plasmids such as the 2 micron plasmid or derivatives of the 2 m plasmid, as well as centomeric and integrative yeast shuttle vectors; vectors useful in eukaryotic cells such as vectors useful in insect or mammalian cells; vectors derived from combinations of plasmids and phage DNAs, such as plasmids that have been modified to employ phage DNA or the expression control sequences; and the like. The requirements are that the vectors are replicable and viable in the host cell of choice. Low- or high-copy number vectors may be used as desired.

Promoters suitable for use in expression vectors with prokaryotic hosts include the β-lactamase and lactose promoter systems [Chang et al., Nature, 275:615 (1978); Goeddel et al., Nature, 281:544 (1979)], alkaline phosphatase, a tryptophan (trp) promoter system [Goeddel, Nucleic Acids Res., 8:4057 (1980); EP 36,776], and hybrid promoters such as the tac promoter [deBoer et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 80:21-25 (1983)], all would be operably linked to the DNA encoding GPXTEN polypeptides. Promoters for use in bacterial systems can also contain a Shine-Dalgarno (S.D.) sequence, operably linked to the DNA encoding GPXTEN polypeptides.

The invention contemplates use of other expression systems including, for example, a baculovirus expression system with both non-fusion transfer vectors, such as, but not limited to pVL941 (BamHI cloning site, available from Summers, et al., Virology 84:390-402 (1978)), pVL1393 (BamHI, SmaI, XbaI, EcoRI, IVotI, XmaIII, BgIII and PstI cloning sites; Invitrogen), pVL1392 (BgIII, PstI, NotI, XmaIII, EcoRI, XbaII, SmaI and BamHI cloning site; Summers, et al., Virology 84:390-402 (1978) and Invitrogen) and pBlueBacIII (BamHI, BgIII, PstI, NcoI and Hindi II cloning site, with blue/white recombinant screening, Invitrogen), and fusion transfer vectors such as, but not limited to, pAc7 00 (BamHI and KpnI cloning sites, in which the BamHI recognition site begins with the initiation codon; Summers, et al., Virology 84:390-402 (1978)), pAc701 and pAc70-2 (same as pAc700, with different reading frames), pAc360 [BamHI cloning site 36 base pairs downstream of a polyhedrin initiation codon; Invitrogen (1995) and pBlueBacHisA, B, C (three different reading frames with BamH I, Bgl II, PstI, Nco I and Hind III cloning site, an N-terminal peptide for ProBond purification and blue/white recombinant screening of plaques; Invitrogen (220) can be used.

Mammalian expression vectors can comprise an origin of replication, a suitable promoter and enhancer, and also any necessary ribosome binding sites, polyadenylation site, splice donor and acceptor sites, transcriptional termination sequences, and 5′ flanking nontranscribed sequences. DNA sequences derived from the SV40 splice, and polyadenylation sites may be used to provide the required nontranscribed genetic elements. Mammalian expression vectors contemplated for use in the invention include vectors with inducible promoters, such as the dihydrofolate reductase promoters, any expression vector with a DHFR expression cassette or a DHFR/methotrexate co-amplification vector such as pED (PstI, SaiI, SbaI, SmaI and EcoRI cloning sites, with the vector expressing both the cloned gene and DHFR; Randal J. Kaufman, 1991, Randal J. Kaufman, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, 16,12 (1991)). Alternatively a glutamine synthetase/methionine sulfoximine co-amplification vector, such as pEE14 (HindIII, XbaII, SmaI, SbaI, EcoRI and Sell cloning sites in which the vector expresses glutamine synthetase and the cloned gene; Celltech). A vector that directs episomal expression under the control of the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) or nuclear antigen (EBNA) can be used such as pREP4 (BamHI r SfH, XhoI, NolI, NheI, Hindi II, NheI, PvuII and KpnI cloning sites, constitutive RSV-LTR promoter, hygromycin selectable marker; Invitrogen), pCEP4 (BamHI, SfH, XhoI, NotI, NheI, HindIII, NheI, PvuII and KpnI cloning sites, constitutive hCMV immediate early gene promoter, hygromycin selectable marker; Invitrogen), pMEP4 (KpnI, PvuI, NheI, HindIII, NotI, XhoI, SfiI, BamHI cloning sites, inducible methallothionein H a gene promoter, hygromycin selectable marker, Invitrogen), pREP8 (BamHI, XhoI, NotI, HindIII, NheI and KpnI cloning sites, RSV-LTR promoter, histidinol selectable marker; Invitrogen), pREP9 (KpnI, NheI, Hind III, NotI, Xho I, Sfi I, BamH I cloning sites, RSV-LTR promoter, G418 selectable marker; Invitrogen), and pEBVHis (RSV-LTR promoter, hygromycin selectable marker, N-terminal peptide purifiable via ProBond resin and cleaved by enterokinase; Invitrogen).

Selectable mammalian expression vectors for use in the invention include, but are not limited to, pRc/CMV (Hind III, BstXI, NotI, SbaI and ApaI cloning sites, G418 selection, Invitrogen), pRc/RSV (Hind II SpeI, BstXI, NotI, XbaI cloning sites, G418 selection, Invitrogen) and the like. Vaccinia virus mammalian expression vectors (see, for example, Randall J. Kaufman, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology 16.12 (Frederick M. Ausubel, et al., eds. Wiley 1991) that can be used in the present invention include, but are not limited to, pSC11 (SmaI cloning site, TK- and beta-gal selection), pMJ601 (Sal I, Sma I, A fII, NarI, BspMII, BamHI, ApaI, NheI, SacII, KpnI and HindIII cloning sites; TK- and -gal selection), pTKgptFIS (EcoRI, PstI, SaIII, AccI, HindII, SbaI, BamHI and Hpa cloning sites, TK or XPRT selection) and the like.

Yeast expression systems that can also be used in the present invention include, but are not limited to, the non-fusion pYES2 vector (XJbaI, SphI, ShoI, NotI, GstXI, EcoRI, BstXI, BamHI, Sad, KpnI and HindIII cloning sites, Invitrogen), the fusion pYESHisA, B, C (XbaII, SphI, ShoI, NotI, BstXI, EcoRI, BamHI, Sad, KpnI and Hindi II cloning sites, N-terminal peptide purified with ProBond resin and cleaved with enterokinase; Invitrogen), pRS vectors and the like.

In addition, the expression vector containing the chimeric GPXTEN fusion protein-encoding polynucleotide molecule may include drug selection markers. Such markers aid in cloning and in the selection or identification of vectors containing chimeric DNA molecules. For example, genes that confer resistance to neomycin, puromycin, hygromycin, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitor, guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (GPT), zeocin, and histidinol are useful selectable markers. Alternatively, enzymes such as herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (tk) or chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) may be employed. Immunologic markers also can be employed. Any known selectable marker may be employed so long as it is capable of being expressed simultaneously with the nucleic acid encoding a gene product. Further examples of selectable markers are well known to one of skill in the art and include reporters such as enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), beta-galactosidase (β-gal) or chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT).

In one embodiment, the polynucleotide encoding a GPXTEN fusion protein composition can be fused C-terminally to an N-terminal signal sequence appropriate for the expression host system. Signal sequences are typically proteolytically removed from the protein during the translocation and secretion process, generating a defined N-terminus. A wide variety of signal sequences have been described for most expression systems, including bacterial, yeast, insect, and mammalian systems. A non-limiting list of preferred examples for each expression system follows herein. Preferred signal sequences are OmpA, PhoA, and DsbA for E. coli expression. Signal peptides preferred for yeast expression are ppL-alpha, DEX4, invertase signal peptide, acid phosphatase signal peptide, CPY, or INU 1. For insect cell expression the preferred signal sequences are sexta adipokinetic hormone precursor, CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4, TPA, PAP, or gp67. For mammalian expression the preferred signal sequences are IL2L, SV40, IgG kappa and IgG lambda.

In another embodiment, a leader sequence, potentially comprising a well-expressed, independent protein domain, can be fused to the N-terminus of the GPXTEN sequence, separated by a protease cleavage site. While any leader peptide sequence which does not inhibit cleavage at the designed proteolytic site can be used, sequences in preferred embodiments will comprise stable, well-expressed sequences such that expression and folding of the overall composition is not significantly adversely affected, and preferably expression, solubility, and/or folding efficiency are significantly improved. A wide variety of suitable leader sequences have been described in the literature. A non-limiting list of suitable sequences includes maltose binding protein, cellulose binding domain, glutathione S-transferase, 6×His tag (SEQ ID NO: 253), FLAG tag, hemaglutinin tag, and green fluorescent protein. The leader sequence can also be further improved by codon optimization, especially in the second codon position following the ATG start codon, by methods well described in the literature and hereinabove.

Various in vitro enzymatic methods for cleaving proteins at specific sites are known. Such methods include use of enterokinase (DDDK (SEQ ID NO: 254)), Factor Xa (IDGR (SEQ ID NO: 255)), thrombin (LVPRGS (SEQ ID NO: 256)), PreScission™ (LEVLFQGP (SEQ ID NO: 257)), TEV protease (EQLYFQG (SEQ ID NO: 258)), 3C protease (ETLFQGP (SEQ ID NO: 259)), Sortase A (LPETG (SEQ ID NO: 260)), Granzyme B (D/X, N/X, M/N or S/X), inteins, SUMO, DAPase (TAGZyme™), Aeromonas aminopeptidase, Aminopeptidase M, and carboxypeptidases A and B. Additional methods are disclosed in Arnau, et al., Protein Expression and Purification 48: 1-13 (2006).

In other cases, the invention provides polynucleotide constructs and methods of making constructs (e.g., as described in the Examples) comprising an optimized polynucleotide sequence encoding at least about 20 to about 60 amino acids with XTEN characteristics can be included at the N-terminus of the XTEN-encoding sequence to promote the initiation of translation to allow for expression of XTEN fusions at the N-terminus of proteins without the presence of a helper domain. In an advantage of the foregoing, the sequence does not require subsequent cleavage of a helper domain, thereby reducing the number of steps to manufacture XTEN-containing compositions. As described in more detail in the Examples, the optimized N-terminal sequence has attributes of an unstructured protein, but may include nucleotide bases encoding amino acids selected for their ability to promote initiation of translation and enhanced expression. In one embodiment of the foregoing, the optimized polynucleotide encodes an XTEN sequence with at least about 90% sequence identity to AE912. In another embodiment of the foregoing, the optimized polynucleotide encodes an XTEN sequence with at least about 90% sequence identity to AM923. In another embodiment of the foregoing, the optimized polynucleotide encodes an XTEN sequence with at least about 90% sequence identity to AE624. In another embodiment of the foregoing, the optimized polynucleotide encodes an XTEN sequence with at least about 90% sequence identity to AE48. In another embodiment of the foregoing, the optimized polynucleotide encodes an XTEN sequence with at least about 90% sequence identity to AM48. In one embodiment, the optimized polynucleotide NTS comprises a sequence that exhibits at least about 80%, at least about 85%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, or at least about 99%, sequence identity to a sequence or its complement selected from

(SEQ ID NO: 261) AE 48: 5′- ATGGCTGAACCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACTGAGGAAGGTACCCCGGG TAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCAA CCGGCTCTCCAGGTGCTTCTCCGGGCACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA-3′ and AM 48: 5′-ATGGCTGAACCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACTGAGGAAGGTGCATCCCCGGGCACCAGCTCTA CCGGTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCT GGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 262)

In another embodiment, the protease site of the leader sequence construct is chosen such that it is recognized by an in vivo protease. In this embodiment, the protein is purified from the expression system while retaining the leader by avoiding contact with an appropriate protease. The full-length construct is then injected into a patient. Upon injection, the construct comes into contact with the protease specific for the cleavage site and is cleaved by the protease. In the case where the uncleaved protein is substantially less active than the cleaved form, this method has the beneficial effect of allowing higher initial doses while avoiding toxicity, as the active form is generated slowly in vivo. Some non-limiting examples of in vivo proteases which are useful for this application include tissue kallikrein, plasma kallikrein, trypsin, pepsin, chymotrypsin, thrombin, and matrix metalloproteinases, or the proteases of Table 8.

In this manner, a chimeric DNA molecule coding for a monomeric GPXTEN fusion protein is generated within the construct. Optionally, this chimeric DNA molecule may be transferred or cloned into another construct that is a more appropriate expression vector. At this point, a host cell capable of expressing the chimeric DNA molecule can be transformed with the chimeric DNA molecule. The vectors containing the DNA segments of interest can be transferred into the host cell by well-known methods, depending on the type of cellular host. For example, calcium chloride transfection is commonly utilized for prokaryotic cells, whereas calcium phosphate treatment, lipofection, or electroporation may be used for other cellular hosts. Other methods used to transform mammalian cells include the use of polybrene, protoplast fusion, liposomes, electroporation, and microinjection. See, generally, Sambrook, et al., supra.

The transformation may occur with or without the utilization of a carrier, such as an expression vector. Then, the transformed host cell is cultured under conditions suitable for expression of the chimeric DNA molecule encoding of GPXTEN.

The present invention also provides a host cell for expressing the monomeric fusion protein compositions disclosed herein. Examples of suitable eukaryotic host cells include, but are not limited to mammalian cells, such as VERO cells, HELA cells such as ATCC No. CCL2, CHO cell lines, COS cells, WI38 cells, BHK cells, HepG2 cells, 3T3 cells, A549 cells, PC12 cells, K562 cells, 293 cells, Sf9 cells and CvI cells. Examples of suitable non-mammalian eukaryotic cells include eukaryotic microbes such as filamentous fungi or yeast are suitable cloning or expression hosts for encoding vectors. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a commonly used lower eukaryotic host microorganism. Others include Schizosaccharomyces pombe (Beach and Nurse, Nature, 290: 140 [1981]; EP 139,383 published 2 May 1985); Kluyveromyces hosts (U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,529; Fleer et al., Bio/Technology, 9:968-975 (1991)) such as, e.g., K. lactis (MW98-8C, CBS683, CBS4574; Louvencourt et al., J. Bacteriol., 737 [1983]), K. fragilis (ATCC 12,424), K. bulgaricus (ATCC 16,045), K. wickeramii (ATCC 24,178), K. waltii (ATCC 56,500), K. drosophilarum (ATCC 36,906; Van den Berg et al., Bio/Technology, 8:135 (1990)), K. thermotolerans, and K. marxianus; yarrowia (EP 402,226); Pichia pastoris (EP 183,070; Sreekrishna et al., J. Basic Microbiol., 28:265-278 [1988]); Candida; Trichoderma reesia (EP 244,234); Neurospora crassa (Case et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 76:5259-5263 [1979]); Schwanniomyces such as Schwanniomyces occidentalis (EP 394,538 published 31 Oct. 1990); and filamentous fungi such as, e.g., Neurospora, Penicillium, Tolypocladium (WO 91/00357 published 10 Jan. 1991), and Aspergillus hosts such as A. nidulans (Ballance et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 112:284-289 [1983]; Tilburn et al., Gene, 26:205-221 [1983]; Yelton et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 81: 1470-1474 [1984]) and A. niger (Kelly and Hynes, EMBO J., 4:475-479 [1985]). Methylotropic yeasts are suitable herein and include, but are not limited to, yeast capable of growth on methanol selected from the genera consisting of Hansenula, Candida, Kloeckera, Pichia, Saccharomyces, Torulopsis, and Rhodotorula. A list of specific species that are exemplary of this class of yeasts may be found in C. Anthony, The Biochemistry of Methylotrophs, 269 (1982).

Other suitable cells that can be used in the present invention include, but are not limited to, prokaryotic host cells strains such as Escherichia coli, (e.g., strain DH5-α), Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhimurium, or strains of the genera of Pseudomonas, Streptomyces and Staphylococcus. Non-limiting examples of suitable prokaryotes include those from the genera: Actinoplanes; Archaeoglobus; Bdellovibrio; Borrelia; Chloroflexus; Enterococcus; Escherichia; Lactobacillus; Listeria; Oceanobacillus; Paracoccus; Pseudomonas; Staphylococcus; Streptococcus; Streptomyces; Thermoplasma; and Vibrio. Non-limiting examples of specific strains include: Archaeoglobus fulgidus; Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus; Borrelia burgdorferi; Chloroflexus aurantiacus; Enterococcus faecalis; Enterococcus faecium; Lactobacillus johnsonii; Lactobacillus plantarum; Lactococcus lactis; Listeria innocua; Listeria monocytogenes; Oceanobacillus iheyensis; Paracoccus zeaxanthinifaciens; Pseudomonas mevalonii; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Staphylococcus haemolyticus; Streptococcus agalactiae; Streptomyces griseolosporeus; Streptococcus mutans; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Streptococcus pyogenes; Thermoplasma acidophilum; Thermoplasma volcanium; Vibrio cholerae; Vibrio parahaemolyticus; and Vibrio vulnificus.

Host cells containing the polynucleotides of interest can be cultured in conventional nutrient media (e.g., Ham's nutrient mixture) modified as appropriate for activating promoters, selecting transformants or amplifying genes. The culture conditions, such as temperature, pH and the like, are those previously used with the host cell selected for expression, and will be apparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan. Cells are typically harvested by centrifugation, disrupted by physical or chemical means, and the resulting crude extract retained for further purification. For compositions secreted by the host cells, supernatant from centrifugation is separated and retained for further purification. Microbial cells employed in expression of proteins can be disrupted by any convenient method, including freeze-thaw cycling, sonication, mechanical disruption, or use of cell lysing agents, all of which are well known to those skilled in the art. Embodiments that involve cell lysis may entail use of a buffer that contains protease inhibitors that limit degradation after expression of the chimeric DNA molecule. Suitable protease inhibitors include, but are not limited to leupeptin, pepstatin or aprotinin. The supernatant then may be precipitated in successively increasing concentrations of saturated ammonium sulfate.

Gene expression may be measured in a sample directly, for example, by conventional Southern blotting, Northern blotting to quantitate the transcription of mRNA [Thomas, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 77:5201-5205 (1980)], dot blotting (DNA analysis), or in situ hybridization, using an appropriately labeled probe, based on the sequences provided herein. Alternatively, antibodies may be employed that can recognize specific duplexes, including DNA duplexes, RNA duplexes, and DNA-RNA hybrid duplexes or DNA-protein duplexes. The antibodies in turn may be labeled and the assay may be carried out where the duplex is bound to a surface, so that upon the formation of duplex on the surface, the presence of antibody bound to the duplex can be detected.

Gene expression, alternatively, may be measured by immunological of fluorescent methods, such as immunohistochemical staining of cells or tissue sections and assay of cell culture or body fluids or the detection of selectable markers, to quantitate directly the expression of gene product. Antibodies useful for immunohistochemical staining and/or assay of sample fluids may be either monoclonal or polyclonal, and may be prepared in any mammal. Conveniently, the antibodies may be prepared against a native sequence GP polypeptide or against a synthetic peptide based on the DNA sequences provided herein or against exogenous sequence fused to GP and encoding a specific antibody epitope. Examples of selectable markers are well known to one of skill in the art and include reporters such as enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), beta-galactosidase (β-gal) or chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT).

Expressed GPXTEN polypeptide product(s) may be purified via methods known in the art or by methods disclosed herein. Procedures such as gel filtration, affinity purification, salt fractionation, ion exchange chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, hydroxyapatite adsorption chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and gel electrophoresis may be used; each tailored to recover and purify the fusion protein produced by the respective host cells. Some expressed GPXTEN may require refolding during isolation and purification. Methods of purification are described in Robert K. Scopes, Protein Purification: Principles and Practice, Charles R. Castor (ed.), Springer-Verlag 1994, and Sambrook, et al., supra. Multi-step purification separations are also described in Baron, et al., Crit. Rev. Biotechnol. 10:179-90 (1990) and Below, et al., J. Chromatogr. A. 679:67-83 (1994).

VIII) Pharmaceutical Compositions

The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising GPXTEN. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition comprises the GPXTEN fusion protein and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. GPXTEN polypeptides of the present invention can be formulated according to known methods to prepare pharmaceutically useful compositions, whereby the polypeptide is combined in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier vehicle, such as aqueous solutions or buffers, pharmaceutically acceptable suspensions and emulsions. Examples of non-aqueous solvents include propyl ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol and vegetable oils. Therapeutic formulations are prepared for storage by mixing the active ingredient having the desired degree of purity with optional physiologically acceptable carriers, excipients or stabilizers, as described in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences 16th edition, Osol, A. Ed. (1980), in the form of lyophilized formulations or aqueous solutions.

The pharmaceutical compositions can be administered orally, intranasally, parenterally or by inhalation therapy, and may take the form of tablets, lozenges, granules, capsules, pills, ampoules, suppositories or aerosol form. They may also take the form of suspensions, solutions and emulsions of the active ingredient in aqueous or nonaqueous diluents, syrups, granulates or powders. In addition, the pharmaceutical compositions can also contain other pharmaceutically active compounds or a plurality of compounds of the invention.

More particularly, the present pharmaceutical compositions may be administered for therapy by any suitable route including oral, rectal, nasal, topical (including transdermal, aerosol, buccal and sublingual), vaginal, parenteral (including subcutaneous, subcutaneous by infusion pump, intramuscular, intravenous and intradermal), intravitreal, and pulmonary. It will also be appreciated that the preferred route will vary with the condition and age of the recipient, and the disease being treated.

In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition is administered subcutaneously. In this embodiment, the composition may be supplied as a lyophilized powder to be reconstituted prior to administration. The composition may also be supplied in a liquid form, which can be administered directly to a patient. In one embodiment, the composition is supplied as a liquid in a pre-filled syringe such that a patient can easily self-administer the composition.

Extended release formulations useful in the present invention may be oral formulations comprising a matrix and a coating composition. Suitable matrix materials may include waxes (e.g., camauba, bees wax, paraffin wax, ceresine, shellac wax, fatty acids, and fatty alcohols), oils, hardened oils or fats (e.g., hardened rapeseed oil, castor oil, beef tallow, palm oil, and soya bean oil), and polymers (e.g., hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and polyethylene glycol). Other suitable matrix tabletting materials are microcrystalline cellulose, powdered cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, with other carriers, and fillers. Tablets may also contain granulates, coated powders, or pellets. Tablets may also be multi-layered. Multi-layered tablets are especially preferred when the active ingredients have markedly different pharmacokinetic profiles. Optionally, the finished tablet may be coated or uncoated.

The coating composition may comprise an insoluble matrix polymer and/or a water soluble material. Water soluble materials can be polymers such as polyethylene glycol, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, or monomeric materials such as sugars (e.g., lactose, sucrose, fructose, mannitol and the like), salts (e.g., sodium chloride, potassium chloride and the like), organic acids (e.g., fumaric acid, succinic acid, lactic acid, and tartaric acid), and mixtures thereof. Optionally, an enteric polymer may be incorporated into the coating composition. Suitable enteric polymers include hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, acetate succinate, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, phthalate, polyvinyl acetate phthalate, cellulose acetate phthalate, cellulose acetate trimellitate, shellac, zein, and polymethacrylates containing carboxyl groups. The coating composition may be plasticised by adding suitable plasticisers such as, for example, diethyl phthalate, citrate esters, polyethylene glycol, glycerol, acetylated glycerides, acetylated citrate esters, dibutylsebacate, and castor oil. The coating composition may also include a filler, which can be an insoluble material such as silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, talc, kaolin, alumina, starch, powdered cellulose, MCC, or polacrilin potassium. The coating composition may be applied as a solution or latex in organic solvents or aqueous solvents or mixtures thereof. Solvents such as water, lower alcohol, lower chlorinated hydrocarbons, ketones, or mixtures thereof may be used.

The compositions of the invention may be formulated using a variety of excipients. Suitable excipients include microcrystalline cellulose (e.g. Avicel PH102, Avicel PH101), polymethacrylate, poly(ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, trimethylammonioethyl methacrylate chloride) (such as Eudragit RS-30D), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (Methocel K100M, Premium CR Methocel K100M, Methocel E5, Opadry®), magnesium stearate, talc, triethyl citrate, aqueous ethylcellulose dispersion (Surelease®), and protamine sulfate. The slow release agent may also comprise a carrier, which can comprise, for example, solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts can also be used in these slow release agents, for example, mineral salts such as hydrochlorides, hydrobromides, phosphates, or sulfates, as well as the salts of organic acids such as acetates, proprionates, malonates, or benzoates. The composition may also contain liquids, such as water, saline, glycerol, and ethanol, as well as substances such as wetting agents, emulsifying agents, or pH buffering agents. Liposomes may also be used as a carrier.

In another embodiment, the compositions of the present invention are encapsulated in liposomes, which have demonstrated utility in delivering beneficial active agents in a controlled manner over prolonged periods of time. Liposomes are closed bilayer membranes containing an entrapped aqueous volume. Liposomes may also be unilamellar vesicles possessing a single membrane bilayer or multilamellar vesicles with multiple membrane bilayers, each separated from the next by an aqueous layer. The structure of the resulting membrane bilayer is such that the hydrophobic (non-polar) tails of the lipid are oriented toward the center of the bilayer while the hydrophilic (polar) heads orient towards the aqueous phase. In one embodiment, the liposome may be coated with a flexible water soluble polymer that avoids uptake by the organs of the mononuclear phagocyte system, primarily the liver and spleen. Suitable hydrophilic polymers for surrounding the liposomes include, without limitation, PEG, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinylmethylether, polymethyloxazoline, polyethyloxazoline, polyhydroxypropyloxazoline, polyhydroxypropylmethacrylamide, polymethacrylamide, polydimethylacrylamide, polyhydroxypropylmethacry late, polyhydroxethylacrylate, hydroxymethylcellulose hydroxyethylcellulose, polyethyleneglycol, polyaspartamide and hydrophilic peptide sequences as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,316,024; 6,126,966; 6,056,973; 6,043,094, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Liposomes may be comprised of any lipid or lipid combination known in the art. For example, the vesicle-forming lipids may be naturally-occurring or synthetic lipids, including phospholipids, such as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylserine, phasphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, and sphingomyelin as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,056,973 and 5,874,104. The vesicle-forming lipids may also be glycolipids, cerebrosides, or cationic lipids, such as 1,2-dioleyloxy-3-(trimethylamino) propane (DOTAP); N-[1-(2,3,-ditetradecyloxy)propyl]-N,N-dimethyl-N-hydroxyethylammonium bromide (DMRIE); N-[1[(2,3,-dioleyloxy)propyl]-N,N-dimethyl-N-hydroxy ethylammonium bromide (DORIE); N-[1-(2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA); 3 [N—(N′,N′-dimethylaminoethane)carbamoly]cholesterol (DC-Chol); or dimethyldioctadecylammonium (DDAB) also as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,973. Cholesterol may also be present in the proper range to impart stability to the vesicle as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,916,588 and 5,874,104.

Additional liposomal technologies are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,759,057; 6,406,713; 6,352,716; 6,316,024; 6,294,191; 6,126,966; 6,056,973; 6,043,094; 5,965,156; 5,916,588; 5,874,104; 5,215,680; and 4,684,479, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. These describe liposomes and lipid-coated microbubbles, and methods for their manufacture. Thus, one skilled in the art, considering both the disclosure of this invention and the disclosures of these other patents could produce a liposome for the extended release of the polypeptides of the present invention.

For liquid formulations, a desired property is that the formulation be supplied in a form that can pass through a 25, 28, 30, 31, 32 gauge needle for intravenous, intramuscular, intraarticular, or subcutaneous administration.

Administration via transdermal formulations can be performed using methods also known in the art, including those described generally in, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,186,938 and 6,183,770, 4,861,800, 6,743,211, 6,945,952, 4,284,444, and WO 89/09051, incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. A transdermal patch is a particularly useful embodiment with polypeptides having absorption problems. Patches can be made to control the release of skin-permeable active ingredients over a 12 hour, 24 hour, 3 day, and 7 day period. In one example, a 2-fold daily excess of a polypeptide of the present invention is placed in a non-volatile fluid. The compositions of the invention are provided in the form of a viscous, non-volatile liquid. The penetration through skin of specific formulations may be measures by standard methods in the art (for example, Franz et al., J. Invest. Derm. 64:194-195 (1975)). Examples of suitable patches are passive transfer skin patches, iontophoretic skin patches, or patches with microneedles such as Nicoderm.

In other embodiments, the composition may be delivered via intranasal, buccal, or sublingual routes to the brain to enable transfer of the active agents through the olfactory passages into the CNS and reducing the systemic administration. Devices commonly used for this route of administration are included in U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,485. Compositions delivered via this route may enable increased CNS dosing or reduced total body burden reducing systemic toxicity risks associated with certain drugs. Preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for delivery in a subdermally implantable device can be performed using methods known in the art, such as those described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,992,518; 5,660,848; and 5,756,115.

Osmotic pumps may be used as slow release agents in the form of tablets, pills, capsules or implantable devices. Osmotic pumps are well known in the art and readily available to one of ordinary skill in the art from companies experienced in providing osmotic pumps for extended release drug delivery. Examples are ALZA's DUROS™; ALZA's OROS™; Osmotica Pharmaceutical's Osmodex™ system; Shire Laboratories' EnSoTrol™ system; and Alzet™. Patents that describe osmotic pump technology are U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,890,918; 6,838,093; 6,814,979; 6,713,086; 6,534,090; 6,514,532; 6,361,796; 6,352,721; 6,294,201; 6,284,276; 6,110,498; 5,573,776; 4,200,0984; and 4,088,864, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. One skilled in the art, considering both the disclosure of this invention and the disclosures of these other patents could produce an osmotic pump for the extended release of the polypeptides of the present invention.

Syringe pumps may also be used as slow release agents. Such devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,976,696; 4,933,185; 5,017,378; 6,309,370; 6,254,573; 4,435,173; 4,398,908; 6,572,585; 5,298,022; 5,176,502; 5,492,534; 5,318,540; and 4,988,337, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. One skilled in the art, considering both the disclosure of this invention and the disclosures of these other patents could produce a syringe pump for the extended release of the compositions of the present invention.

IX) Pharmaceutical Kits

In another aspect, the invention provides a kit to facilitate the use of the GPXTEN polypeptides. The kit comprises the pharmaceutical composition provided herein, a label identifying the pharmaceutical composition, and an instruction for storage, reconstitution and/or administration of the pharmaceutical compositions to a subject. In some embodiment, the kit comprises, preferably: (a) an amount of a GPXTEN fusion protein composition sufficient to treat a disease, condition or disorder upon administration to a subject in need thereof; and (b) an amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; together in a formulation ready for injection or for reconstitution with sterile water, buffer, or dextrose; together with a label identifying the GPXTEN drug and storage and handling conditions, and a sheet of the approved indications for the drug, instructions for the reconstitution and/or administration of the GPXTEN drug for the use for the prevention and/or treatment of a approved indication, appropriate dosage and safety information, and information identifying the lot and expiration of the drug. In another embodiment of the foregoing, the kit can comprise a second container that can carry a suitable diluent for the GPXTEN composition, which will provide the user with the appropriate concentration of GPXTEN to be delivered to the subject.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Construction of XTEN_AD36 Motif Segments

The following example describes the construction of a collection of codon-optimized genes encoding motif sequences of 36 amino acids. As a first step, a stuffer vector pCW0359 was constructed based on a pET vector and that includes a T7 promoter. pCW0359 encodes a cellulose binding domain (CBD) and a TEV protease recognition site followed by a stuffer sequence that is flanked by BsaI, BbsI, and KpnI sites. The BsaI and BbsI sites were inserted such that they generate compatible overhangs after digestion. The stuffer sequence is followed by a truncated version of the GFP gene and a His tag. The stuffer sequence contains stop codons and thus E. coli cells carrying the stuffer plasmid pCW0359 form non-fluorescent colonies. The stuffer vector pCW0359 was digested with BsaI and KpnI to remove the stuffer segment and the resulting vector fragment was isolated by agarose gel purification. The sequences were designated XTEN_AD36, reflecting the AD family of motifs. Its segments have the amino acid sequence [X]₃ where X is a 12 mer peptide with the sequences: GESPGGSSGSES (SEQ ID NO: 263), GSEGSSGPGESS (SEQ ID NO: 264), GSSESGSSEGGP (SEQ ID NO: 265), or GSGGEPSESGSS (SEQ ID NO: 266). The insert was obtained by annealing the following pairs of phosphorylated synthetic oligonucleotide pairs:

(SEQ ID NO: 267) AD1for: AGGTGAATCTCCDGGTGGYTCYAGCGGTTCYGARTC (SEQ ID NO: 268) AD1rev: ACCTGAYTCRGAACCGCTRGARCCACCHGGAGATTC (SEQ ID NO: 269) AD2for: AGGTAGCGAAGGTTCTTCYGGTCCDGGYGARTCYTC (SEQ ID NO: 270) AD2rev: ACCTGARGAYTCRCCHGGACCRGAAGAACCTTCGCT (SEQ ID NO: 271) AD3for: AGGTTCYTCYGAAAGCGGTTCTTCYGARGGYGGTCC (SEQ ID NO: 272) AD3rev: ACCTGGACCRCCYTCRGAAGAACCGCTTTCRGARGA (SEQ ID NO: 273) AD4for: AGGTTCYGGTGGYGAACCDTCYGARTCTGGTAGCTC

We also annealed the phosphorylated oligonucleotide 3KpnIstopperFor: AGGTTCGTCTTCACTCGAGGGTAC (SEQ ID NO: 274) and the non-phosphorylated oligonucleotide pr_(—)3KpnIstopperRev: CCTCGAGTGAAGACGA (SEQ ID NO: 275). The annealed oligonucleotide pairs were ligated, which resulted in a mixture of products with varying length that represents the varying number of 12 mer repeats ligated to one BbsI/KpnI segment. The products corresponding to the length of 36 amino acids were isolated from the mixture by preparative agarose gel electrophoresis and ligated into the BsaI/KpnI digested stuffer vector pCW0359. Most of the clones in the resulting library designated LCW0401 showed green fluorescence after induction, which shows that the sequence of XTEN_AD36 had been ligated in frame with the GFP gene and that most sequences of XTEN_AD36 had good expression levels.

We screened 96 isolates from library LCW0401 for high level of fluorescence by stamping them onto agar plate containing IPTG. The same isolates were evaluated by PCR and 48 isolates were identified that contained segments with 36 amino acids as well as strong fluorescence. These isolates were sequenced and 39 clones were identified that contained correct XTEN_AD36 segments. The file names of the nucleotide and amino acid constructs for these segments are listed in Table 10.

TABLE 10 DNA and Amino Acid Sequences for 36-mer motifs Amino acid SEQ ID SEQ ID File name sequence NO: Nucleotide sequence NO: LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGE 276 GGTTCTGGTGGCGAACCGTCCGAGTCTGGTAGCTCAGG 277 01_GFP- SPGGSSGSESGESP TGAATCTCCGGGTGGCTCTAGCGGTTCCGAGTCAGGTG N_A01.ab1 GGSSGSES AATCTCCTGGTGGTTCCAGCGGTTCCGAGTCA LCW0401_0 GSEGSSGPGESSGE 278 GGTAGCGAAGGTTCTTCTGGTCCTGGCGAGTCTTCAGG 279 02_GFP- SPGGSSGSESGSSE TGAATCTCCTGGTGGTTCCAGCGGTTCTGAATCAGGTT N_B01.ab1 SGSSEGGP CCTCCGAAAGCGGTTCTTCCGAGGGCGGTCCA LCW0401_0 GSSESGSSEGGPGS 280 GGTTCCTCTGAAAGCGGTTCTTCCGAAGGTGGTCCAGG 281 03_GFP- SESGSSEGGPGESP TTCCTCTGAAAGCGGTTCTTCTGAGGGTGGTCCAGGTG N_C01.ab1 GGSSGSES AATCTCCGGGTGGCTCCAGCGGTTCCGAGTCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGS 282 GGTTCCGGTGGCGAACCGTCTGAATCTGGTAGCTCAGG 283 04_GFP- SESGSSEGGPGSGG TTCTTCTGAAAGCGGTTCTTCCGAGGGTGGTCCAGGTT N_D01.ab1 EPSESGSS CTGGTGGTGAACCTTCCGAGTCTGGTAGCTCA LCW0401_0 GSSESGSSEGGPGS 284 GGTTCTTCCGAAAGCGGTTCTTCTGAGGGTGGTCCAGG 285 07_GFP- EGSSGPGESSGSEG TAGCGAAGGTTCTTCCGGTCCAGGTGAGTCTTCAGGTA N_F01.ab1 SSGPGESS GCGAAGGTTCTTCTGGTCCTGGTGAATCTTCA LCW0401_0 GSSESGSSEGGPGE 286 GGTTCCTCTGAAAGCGGTTCTTCCGAGGGTGGTCCAGG 287 08_GFP- SPGGSSGSESGSEG TGAATCTCCAGGTGGTTCCAGCGGTTCTGAGTCAGGTA N_G01.ab1 SSGPGESS GCGAAGGTTCTTCTGGTCCAGGTGAATCCTCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGS 288 GGTTCTGGTGGTGAACCGTCTGAGTCTGGTAGCTCAGG 289 12_GFP- GGEPSESGSSGSEG TTCCGGTGGCGAACCATCCGAATCTGGTAGCTCAGGTA N_H01.ab1 SSGPGESS GCGAAGGTTCTTCCGGTCCAGGTGAGTCTTCA LCW0401_0 GSSESGSSEGGPGS 290 GGTTCTTCCGAAAGCGGTTCTTCCGAAGGCGGTCCAGG 291 15_GFP- EGSSGPGESSGESP TAGCGAAGGTTCTTCTGGTCCAGGCGAATCTTCAGGTG N_A02.ab1 GGSSGSES AATCTCCTGGTGGCTCCAGCGGTTCTGAGTCA LCW0401_0 GSSESGSSEGGPGS 292 GGTTCCTCCGAAAGCGGTTCTTCTGAGGGCGGTCCAGG 293 16_GFP- SESGSSEGGPGSSE TTCCTCCGAAAGCGGTTCTTCCGAGGGCGGTCCAGGTT N_B02.ab1 SGSSEGGP CTTCTGAAAGCGGTTCTTCCGAGGGCGGTCCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGS 294 GGTTCCGGTGGCGAACCGTCCGAATCTGGTAGCTCAGG 295 20_GFP- EGSSGPGESSGSSE TAGCGAAGGTTCTICTGGTCCAGGCGAATCTTCAGGTT N_E02.ab1 SGSSEGGP CCTCTGAAAGCGGTTCTTCTGAGGGCGGTCCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGS 296 GGTTCTGGTGGTGAACCGTCCGAATCTGGTAGCTCAGG 297 22_GFP- SESGSSEGGPGSGG TTCTTCCGAAAGCGGTTCTTCTGAAGGTGGTCCAGGTT N_F02.ab1 EPSESGSS CCGGTGGCGAACCTTCTGAATCTGGTAGCTCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGS 298 GGTTCTGGTGGCGAACCGTCCGAATCTGGTAGCTCAGG 299 24_GFP- SESGSSEGGPGESP TTCCTCCGAAAGCGGTTCTTCTGAAGGTGGTCCAGGTG N_G02.ab1 GGSSGSES AATCTCCAGGTGGTTCTAGCGGTTCTGAATCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGE 300 GGTTCTGGTGGCGAACCGTCTGAGTCTGGTAGCTCAGG 301 26_GFP- SPGGSSGSESGSEG TGAATCTCCTGGTGGCTCCAGCGGTTCTGAATCAGGTA N_H02.ab1 SSGPGESS GCGAAGGTTCTTCTGGTCCTGGTGAATCTTCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGE 302 GGTTCCGGTGGCGAACCTTCCGAATCTGGTAGCTCAGG 303 27_GFP- SPGGSSGSESGSGG TGAATCTCCGGGTGGTTCTAGCGGTTCTGAGTCAGGTT N_A03.ab1 EPSESGSS CTGGTGGTGAACCTTCCGAGTCTGGTAGCTCA LCW0401_0 GSSESGSSEGGPGS 304 GGTTCCTCTGAAAGCGGTTCTTCTGAGGGCGGTCCAGG 305 28_GFP- SESGSSEGGPGSSE TTCTTCCGAAAGCGGTTCTTCCGAGGGCGGTCCAGGTT N_B03.ab1 SGSSEGGP CTTCCGAAAGCGGTTCTTCTGAAGGCGGTCCA LCW0401_0 GESPGGSSGSESGS 306 GGTGAATCTCCGGGTGGCTCCAGCGGTTCTGAGTCAGG 307 30_GFP- EGSSGPGESSGSEG TAGCGAAGGTTCTTCCGGTCCGGGTGAGTCCTCAGGTA N_C03.ab1 SSGPGESS GCGAAGGTTCTTCCGGTCCTGGTGAGTCTTCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGS 308 GGTTCTGGTGGCGAACCTTCCGAATCTGGTAGCTCAGG 309 31_GFP- GGEPSESGSSGSSE TTCCGGTGGTGAACCTTCTGAATCTGGTAGCTCAGGTT N_D03.ab1 SGSSEGGP CTTCTGAAAGCGGTTCTTCCGAGGGCGGTCCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGS 310 GGTTCCGGTGGTGAACCTTCTGAATCTGGTAGCTCAGG 311 33_GFP- GGEPSESGSSGSGG TTCCGGTGGCGAACCATCCGAGTCTGGTAGCTCAGGTT N_E03.ab1 EPSESGSS CCGGTGGTGAACCATCCGAGTCTGGTAGCTCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGS 312 GGTTCCGGTGGCGAACCTTCTGAATCTGGTAGCTCAGG 313 37_GFP- SESGSSEGGPGSEG TTCCTCCGAAAGCGGTTCTTCTGAGGGCGGTCCAGGTA N_F03.ab1 SSGPGESS GCGAAGGTTCTTCTGGTCCGGGCGAGTCTTCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGS 314 GGTTCCGGTGGTGAACCGTCCGAGTCTGGTAGCTCAGG 315 38_GFP- EGSSGPGESSGSGG TAGCGAAGGTTCTTCTGGTCCGGGTGAGTCTTCAGGTT N_G03.ab1 EPSESGSS CTGGTGGCGAACCGTCCGAATCTGGTAGCTCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGE 316 GGTTCTGGTGGCGAACCGTCCGAATCTGGTAGCTCAGG 317 39_GFP- SPGGSSGSESGSGG TGAATCTCCTGGTGGTTCCAGCGGTTCCGAGTCAGGTT N_H03.ab1 EPSESGSS CTGGTGGCGAACCTTCCGAATCTGGTAGCTCA LCW0401_0 GSSESGSSEGGPGS 318 GGTTCTTCCGAAAGCGGTTCTTCCGAGGGCGGTCCAGG 319 40_GFP GGEPSESGSSGSSE TTCCGGTGGTGAACCATCTGAATCTGGTAGCTCAGGTT N_A04.ab1 SGSSEGGP CTTCTGAAAGCGGTTCTTCTGAAGGTGGTCCA LCW0401_0 GSEGSSGPGESSGE 320 GGTAGCGAAGGTTCTTCCGGTCCTGGTGAGTCTTCAGG 321 42_GFP- SPGGSSGSESGSEG TGAATCTCCAGGTGGCTCTAGCGGTTCCGAGTCAGGTA N_C04.ab1 SSGPGESS GCGAAGGTTCTTCTGGTCCTGGCGAGTCCTCA LCW0401_0 GSSESGSSEGGPGS 322 GGTTCCTCTGAAAGCGGTTCTTCCGAAGGCGGTCCAGG 323 46_GFP- SESGSSEGGPGSSE TTCTTCCGAAAGCGGTTCTTCTGAGGGCGGTCCAGGTT N_D04.ab1 SGSSEGGP CCTCCGAAAGCGGTTCTTCTGAGGGTGGTCCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGE 324 GGTTCTGGTGGCGAACCTTCCGAGTCTGGTAGCTCAGG 325 47_GFP- SPGGSSGSESGESP TGAATCTCCGGGTGGTTCTAGCGGTTCCGAGTCAGGTG N_E04.ab1 GGSSGSES AATCTCCGGGTGGTTCCAGCGGTTCTGAGTCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGS 326 GGTTCTGGTGGCGAACCATCTGAGTCTGGTAGCTCAGG 327 51_GFP- EGSSGPGESSGESP TAGCGAAGGTTCTTCCGGTCCAGGCGAGTCTTCAGGTG N_F04.ab1 GGSSGSES AATCTCCTGGTGGCTCCAGCGGTTCTGAGTCA LCW0401_0 GESPGGSSGSESGE 328 GGTGAATCTCCTGGTGGTTCCAGCGGTTCCGAGTCAGG 329 53_GFP- SPGGSSGSESGESP TGAATCTCCAGGTGGCTCTAGCGGTTCCGAGTCAGGTG N_H04.ab1 GGSSGSES AATCTCCTGGTGGTTCTAGCGGTTCTGAATCA LCW0401_0 GSEGSSGPGESSGS 330 GGTAGCGAAGGTTCTTCCGGTCCAGGTGAATCTTCAGG 331 54_GFP- EGSSGPGESSGSGG TAGCGAAGGTTCTTCTGGTCCTGGTGAATCCTCAGGTT N_A05.ab1 EPSESGSS CCGGTGGCGAACCATCTGAATCTGGTAGCTCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGS 332 GGTTCTGGTGGCGAACCATCCGAATCTGGTAGCTCAGG 333 59_GFP- EGSSGPGESSGESP TAGCGAAGGTTCTTCTGGTCCTGGCGAATCTTCAGGTG N_D05.ab1 GGSSGSES AATCTCCAGGTGGCTCTAGCGGTTCCGAATCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGS 334 GGTTCCGGTGGTGAACCGTCCGAATCTGGTAGCTCAGG 335 60_GFP- SESGSSEGGPGSGG TTCCTCTGAAAGCGGTTCTTCCGAGGGTGGTCCAGGTT N_E05.ab1 EPSESGSS CCGGTGGTGAACCTTCTGAGTCTGGTAGCTCA LCW0401_0 GSSESGSSEGGPGS 336 GGTTCCTCTGAAAGCGGTTCTTCTGAGGGCGGTCCAGG 337 61_GFP- GGEPSESGSSGSEG TTCTGGTGGCGAACCATCTGAATCTGGTAGCTCAGGTA N_F05.ab1 SSGPGESS GCGAAGGTTCTTCCGGTCCGGGTGAATCTTCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGS 338 GGTTCTGGTGGTGAACCGTCCGAATCTGGTAGCTCAGG 339 63_GFP- EGSSGPGESSGSEG TAGCGAAGGTTCTTCTGGTCCTGGCGAGTCTTCAGGTA N_H05.ab1 SSGPGESS GCGAAGGTTCTTCTGGTCCTGGTGAATCTTCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGS 340 GGTTCTGGTGGCGAACCATCCGAGTCTGGTAGCTCAGG 341 66_GFP- SESGSSEGGPGSGG TTCTTCCGAAAGCGGTTCTTCCGAAGGCGGTCCAGGTT N_B06.ab1 EPSESGSS CTGGTGGTGAACCGTCCGAATCTGGTAGCTCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGE 342 GGTTCCGGTGGCGAACCTTCCGAATCTGGTAGCTCAGG 343 67_GFP- SPGGSSGSESGESP TGAATCTCCGGGTGGTTCTAGCGGTTCCGAATCAGGTG N_C06.ab1 GGSSGSES AATCTCCAGGTGGTTCTAGCGGTTCCGAATCA LCW0401_0 GSGGEPSESGSSGS 344 GGTTCCGGTGGTGAACCATCTGAGTCTGGTAGCTCAGG 345 69_GFP- GGEPSESGSSGESP TTCCGGTGGCGAACCGTCCGAGTCTGGTAGCTCAGGTG N_D06.ab1 GGSSGSES AATCTCCGGGTGGTTCCAGCGGTTCCGAATCA LCW0401_0 GSEGSSGPGESSGS 346 GGTAGCGAAGGTTCTTCTGGTCCGGGCGAATCCTCAGG 347 70_GFP- SESGSSEGGPGSEG TTCCTCCGAAAGCGGTTCTTCCGAAGGTGGTCCAGGTA N_E06.ab1 SSGPGESS GCGAAGGTTCTTCCGGTCCTGGTGAATCTTCA LCW0401_0 GSSESGSSEGGPGE 348 GGTTCCTCTGAAAGCGGTTCTTCTGAAGGCGGTCCAGG 349 78_GFP- SPGGSSGSESGESP TGAATCTCCGGGTGGCTCCAGCGGTTCTGAATCAGGTG N_F06.ab1 GGSSGSES AATCTCCTGGTGGCTCCAGCGGTTCCGAGTCA LCW0401_0 GSEGSSGPGESSGS 350 GGTAGCGAAGGTTCTTCTGGTCCAGGCGAGTCTTCAGG 351 79_GFP- EGSSGPGESSGSGG TAGCGAAGGTTCTTCCGGTCCTGGCGAGTCTTCAGGTT N_G06.ab1 EPSESGSS CCGGTGGCGAACCGTCCGAATCTGGTAGCTCA

Example 2 Construction of XTEN_AE36 Segments

A codon library encoding XTEN sequences of 36 amino acid length was constructed. The XTEN sequence was designated XTEN_AE36. Its segments have the amino acid sequence [X]₃ where X is a 12 mer peptide with the sequence: GSPAGSPTSTEE (SEQ ID NO: 352), GSEPATSGSE TP (SEQ ID NO: 353), GTSESA TPESGP (SEQ ID NO: 354), or GTSTEPSEGSAP (SEQ ID NO: 355). The insert was obtained by annealing the following pairs of phosphorylated synthetic oligonucleotide pairs:

(SEQ ID NO: 356) AE1for: AGGTAGCCCDGCWGGYTCTCCDACYTCYACYGARGA (SEQ ID NO: 357) AE1rev: ACCTTCYTCRGTRGARGTHGGAGARCCWGCHGGGCT (SEQ ID NO: 358) AE2for: AGGTAGCGAACCKGCWACYTCYGGYTCTGARACYCC (SEQ ID NO: 359) AE2rev: ACCTGGRGTYTCAGARCCRGARGTWGCMGGTTCGCT (SEQ ID NO: 360) AE3for: AGGTACYTCTGAAAGCGCWACYCCKGARTCYGGYCC (SEQ ID NO: 361) AE3rev: ACCTGGRCCRGAYTCMGGRGTWGCGCTTTCAGARGT (SEQ ID NO: 362) AE4for: AGGTACYTCTACYGAACCKTCYGARGGYAGCGCWCC (SEQ ID NO: 363) AE4rev: ACCTGGWGCGCTRCCYTCRGAMGGTTCRGTAGARGT

We also annealed the phosphorylated oligonucleotide 3KpnIstopperFor: AGGTTCGTCTTCACTCGAGGGTAC (SEQ ID NO: 364) and the non-phosphorylated oligonucleotide pr_(—)3KpnIstopperRev: CCTCGAGTGAAGACGA (SEQ ID NO: 365). The annealed oligonucleotide pairs were ligated, which resulted in a mixture of products with varying length that represents the varying number of 12 mer repeats ligated to one BbsI/KpnI segment. The products corresponding to the length of 36 amino acids were isolated from the mixture by preparative agarose gel electrophoresis and ligated into the BsaI/KpnI digested stuffer vector pCW0359. Most of the clones in the resulting library designated LCW0402 showed green fluorescence after induction which shows that the sequence of XTEN_AE36 had been ligated in frame with the GFP gene and most sequences of XTEN_AE36 show good expression.

We screened 96 isolates from library LCW0402 for high level of fluorescence by stamping them onto agar plate containing IPTG. The same isolates were evaluated by PCR and 48 isolates were identified that contained segments with 36 amino acids as well as strong fluorescence. These isolates were sequenced and 37 clones were identified that contained correct XTEN_AE36 segments. The file names of the nucleotide and amino acid constructs for these segments are listed in Table 11.

TABLE 11 DNA and Amino Acid Sequences for 36-mer motifs File Amino acid SEQ ID SEQ ID name sequence NO: Nucleotide sequence NO: LCW04 GSPAGSPTSTEE 366 GGTAGCCCGGCAGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGT 367 02_002_(—) GTSESATPESGP ACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTACC GFP- GTSTEPSEGSAP TCTACCGAACCGTCTGAGGGCAGCGCACCA N_A07.a b1 LCW04 GTSTEPSEGSAP 368 GGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCAGGT 369 02_003_(—) GTSTEPSEGSAP ACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAGGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACC GFP- GTSTEPSEGSAP TCTACCGAACCTTCTGAAGGTAGCGCACCA N_B07.a b1 LCW04 GTSTEPSEGSAP 370 GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCTGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGGT 371 02_004_(—) GTSESATPESGP ACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACTCCTGAGTCCGGTCCAGGTACT GFP- GTSESATPESGP TCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAGTCTGGCCCA N_C07.a b1 LCW04 GTSTEPSEGSAP 372 GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGTAGCGCACCAGGT 373 02_005_(—) GTSESATPESGP ACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAATCCGGCCCAGGTACC GFP- GTSESATPESGP TCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAGTCCGGCCCA N_D07.a b1 LCW04 GSEPATSGSETP 374 GGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGCTCTGAAACCCCAGGT 375 02_006_(—) GTSESATPESGP ACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCCGGCCCAGGTAGC GFP- GSPAGSPTSTEE CCGGCAGGTTCTCCGACTTCCACTGAGGAA N_E07.a b1 LCW04 GTSESATPESGP 376 GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGTCCAGGT 377 02_008_  GSEPATSGSETP AGCGAACCGGCTACTTCTGGCTCTGAGACTCCAGGTACT GFP- GTSTEPSEGSAP TCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA N_F07.a b1 LCW04 GSPAGSPTSTEE 378 GGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACTGAGGAAGGT 379 02_009_(—) GSPAGSPTSTEE AGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACTGAAGAAGGTAGC GFP- GSEPATSGSETP GAACCGGCTACCTCCGGCTCTGAAACTCCA N_G07.a b1 LCW04 GSPAGSPTSTEE 380 GGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCTACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGT 381 02_011_(—) GTSESATPESGP ACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGTCTGGTCCAGGTACC GFP- GTSTEPSEGSAP TCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA N_A08.a b1 LCW04 GSPAGSPTSTEE 382 GGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACTTCTACTGAGGAAGGT 383 02_012_(—) GSPAGSPTSTEE AGCCCGGCTGGTTCTCCGACTTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACT GFP- GTSTEPSEGSAP TCTACCGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA N_B08.a b1 LCW04 GTSESATPESGP 384 GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAGTCCGGTCCAGGT 385 02_013_(—) GTSTEPSEGSAP ACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACT GFP- GTSTEPSEGSAP TCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCA N_C08.a b1 LCW04 GTSTEPSEGSAP 386 GGTACCTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCAGGT 387 02_014_(—) GSPAGSPTSTEE AGCCCGGCAGGTTCTCCTACTTCCACTGAGGAAGGTACT GFP- GTSTEPSEGSAP TCTACCGAACCTTCTGAGGGTAGCGCACCA N_D08.a b1 LCW04 GSEPATSGSETP 388 GGTAGCGAACCGGCTACTTCCGGCTCTGAGACTCCAGGT 389 02_015_(—) GSPAGSPTSTEE AGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACCGAAGAAGGTACC GFP- GTSESATPESGP TCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCTGAGTCTGGCCCA N_E08.a b1 LCW04 GTSTEPSEGSAP 390 GGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGT 391 02_016_(—) GTSESATPESGP ACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCTGAGTCCGGCCCAGGTACT GFP- GTSESATPESGP TCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCCGGTCCA N_F08.a b1 LCW04 GTSTEPSEGSAP 392 GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGCAGCGCACCAGGT 393 02_020_(—) GSEPATSGSETP AGCGAACCGGCTACTTCCGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGTAGC GFP- GSPAGSPTSTEE CCAGCAGGTTCTCCAACTTCTACTGAAGAA N_G08.a b1 LCW04 GSPAGSPTSTEE 394 GGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACCGAAGAAGGT 395 02_023_(—) GTSESATPESGP ACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGCCCAGGTAGC GFP- GSEPATSGSETP GAACCGGCAACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACCCCA N_A09.a b1 LCW04 GTSESATPESGP 396 GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGTCCGGCCCAGGT 397 02_024_  GSPAGSPTSTEE AGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCGACTTCCACCGAGGAAGGTAGC GFP- GSPAGSPTSTEE CCGGCTGGCTCTCCAACTTCTACTGAAGAA N_B09.a b1 LCW04 GTSTEPSEGSAP 398 GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCTCCAGGT 399 02_025_(—) GTSESATPESGP ACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAGTCCGGTCCAGGTACT GFP- GTSTEPSEGSAP TCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA N_C09.a b1 LCW04 GSPAGSPTSTEE 400 GGTAGCCCGGCAGGCTCTCCGACTTCCACCGAGGAAGGT 401 02_026_(—) GTSTEPSEGSAP ACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTAGC GFP- GSEPATSGSETP GAACCGGCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACCCCA N_D09.a b1 LCW04 GSPAGSPTSTEE 402 GGTAGCCCAGCAGGCTCTCCGACTTCCACTGAGGAAGGT 403 02_027_(—) GTSTEPSEGSAP ACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACC GFP- GTSTEPSEGSAP TCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCTCCA N_E09.a b1 LCW04 GSEPATSGSETP 404 GGTAGCGAACCTGCTACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGT 405 02_032_(—) GTSESATPESGP ACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACTCCGGAGTCTGGTCCAGGTAGC GFP- GSPAGSPTSTEE CCTGCAGGTTCTCCTACCTCCACTGAGGAA N_H09.a b1 LCW04 GTSESATPESGP 406 GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAGTCTGGCCCAGGT 407 02_034_(—) GTSTEPSEGSAP ACCTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTACT GFP- GTSTEPSEGSAP TCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA N_A10.a b1 LCW04 GSPAGSPTSTEE 408 GGTAGCCCGGCTGGTTCTCCGACTTCCACCGAGGAAGGT 409 02_036_(—) GTSTEPSEGSAP ACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTACC GFP- GTSTEPSEGSAP TCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA N_C10.a b1 LCW04 GTSTEPSEGSAP 410 GGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCTCCAGGT 411 02_039_(—) GTSTEPSEGSAP ACTTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAAGGCAGCGCTCCAGGTACT GFP- GTSTEPSEGSAP TCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA N_E10.a b1 LCW04 GSEPATSGSETP 412 GGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACCCCAGGT 413 02_040_(—) GTSESATPESGP ACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCTGGCCCAGGTACT GFP- GTSTEPSEGSAP TCTACTGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCA N_F10.a b1 LCW04 GTSTEPSEGSAP 414 GGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCAGGT 415 02_041_(—) GSPAGSPTSTEE AGCCCAGCAGGTTCTCCTACCTCCACCGAGGAAGGTACT GFP- GTSTEPSEGSAP TCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCA N_G10.a b1 LCW04 GSEPATSGSETP 416 GGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGCTCTGAAACTCCAGGT 417 02_050_(—) GTSESATPESGP ACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAATCCGGCCCAGGTAGC GFP- GSEPATSGSETP GAACCGGCTACTTCCGGCTCTGAAACCCCA N_A11.a b1 LCW04 GSEPATSGSETP 418 GGTAGCGAACCGGCAACTTCCGGCTCTGAAACCCCAGGT 419 02_051_(—) GTSESATPESGP ACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGTCTGGCCCAGGTAGC GFP- GSEPATSGSETP GAACCTGCTACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACCCCA N_B11.a b1 LCW04 GSEPATSGSETP 420 GGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACTCCAGGT 421 02_059_(—) GSEPATSGSETP AGCGAACCTGCAACCTCCGGCTCTGAAACCCCAGGTACT GFP- GTSTEPSEGSAP TCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCACCA N_E11.a b1 LCW04 GTSESATPESGP 422 GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAATCTGGCCCAGGT 423 02_060_(—) GSEPATSGSETP AGCGAACCGGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGTAGC GFP- GSEPATSGSETP GAACCGGCTACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACTCCA N_F11.a b1 LCW04 GTSTEPSEGSAP 424 GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCAGGT 425 02_061_(—) GTSTEPSEGSAP ACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCAGGTACT GFP- GTSESATPESGP TCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGTCCA N_G11.a b1 LCW04 GSEPATSGSETP 426 GGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACCCCAGGT 427 02_065_(—) GTSESATPESGP ACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAATCTGGTCCAGGTACT GFP- GTSESATPESGP TCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAATCCGGTCCA N_A12.a b1 LCW04 GSEPATSGSETP 428 GGTAGCGAACCTGCTACCTCCGGCTCTGAAACTCCAGGT 429 02_066_(—) GSEPATSGSETP AGCGAACCGGCTACTTCCGGTTCTGAAACTCCAGGTACC GFP- GTSTEPSEGSAP TCTACCGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCACCA N_B12.a b1 LCW04 GSEPATSGSETP 430 GGTAGCGAACCTGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACTCCAGGT 431 02_067_(—) GTSTEPSEGSAP ACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTAGC GFP- GSEPATSGSETP GAACCTGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACTCCA N_C12.a b1 LCW04 GTSTEPSEGSAP 432 GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCAGGT 433 02_069_(—) GTSTEPSEGSAP ACCTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCAGGTAGC GFP- GSEPATSGSETP GAACCGGCAACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACTCCA N_D12.a b1 LCW04 GTSTEPSEGSAP 434 GGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCAGGT 435 02_073_(—) GSEPATSGSETP AGCGAACCTGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGTAGC GFP- GSPAGSPTSTEE CCGGCTGGCTCTCCGACCTCCACCGAGGAA N_F12.a b1 LCW04 GSEPATSGSETP 436 GGTAGCGAACCGGCTACTTCCGGCTCTGAGACTCCAGGT 437 02_074_(—) GSPAGSPTSTEE AGCCCAGCTGGTTCTCCAACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACT GFP- GTSESATPESGP TCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCTGAATCTGGTCCA N_G12.a b1 LCW04 GTSESATPESGP 438 GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACTCCTGAGTCTGGCCCAGGT 439 02_075_(—) GSEPATSGSETP AGCGAACCTGCTACCTCCGGCTCTGAGACTCCAGGTACC GFP- GTSESATPESGP TCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAATCTGGTCCA N_H12.a b1

Example 3 Construction of XTEN_AF36 Segments

A codon library encoding sequences of 36 amino acid length was constructed. The sequences were designated XTEN_AF36. Its segments have the amino acid sequence [X]3 where X is a 12 mer peptide with the sequence: GSTSESPSGTAP (SEQ ID NO: 440), GTSTPESGSASP (SEQ ID NO: 441), GTSPSGESSTAP (SEQ ID NO: 442), or GSTSSTAESPGP (SEQ ID NO: 443). The insert was obtained by annealing the following pairs of phosphorylated synthetic oligonucleotide pairs:

(SEQ ID NO: 444) AF1for: AGGTTCTACYAGCGAATCYCCKTCTGGYACYGCWCC (SEQ ID NO: 445) AF1rev: ACCTGGWGCRGTRCCAGAMGGRGATTCGCTRGTAGA (SEQ ID NO: 446) AF2for: AGGTACYTCTACYCCKGAAAGCGGYTCYGCWTCTCC (SEQ ID NO: 447) AF2rev: ACCTGGAGAWGCRGARCCGCTTTCMGGRGTAGARGT (SEQ ID NO: 448) AF3for: AGGTACYTCYCCKAGCGGYGAATCTTCTACYGCWCC (SEQ ID NO: 449) AF3rev: ACCTGGWGCRGTAGAAGATTCRCCGCTMGGRGARGT (SEQ ID NO: 450) AF4for: AGGTTCYACYAGCTCTACYGCWGAATCTCCKGGYCC (SEQ ID NO: 451) AF4rev: ACCTGGRCCMGGAGATTCWGCRGTAGAGCTRGTRGA

We also annealed the phosphorylated oligonucleotide 3KpnIstopperFor: AGGTTCGTCTTCACTCGAGGGTAC (SEQ ID NO: 452) and the non-phosphorylated oligonucleotide pr_(—)3KpnIstopperRev: CCTCGAGTGAAGACGA (SEQ ID NO: 453). The annealed oligonucleotide pairs were ligated, which resulted in a mixture of products with varying length that represents the varying number of 12 mer repeats ligated to one BbsI/KpnI segment. The products corresponding to the length of 36 amino acids were isolated from the mixture by preparative agarose gel electrophoresis and ligated into the BsaI/KpnI digested stuffer vector pCW0359. Most of the clones in the resulting library designated LCW0403 showed green fluorescence after induction which shows that the sequence of XTEN_AF36 had been ligated in frame with the GFP gene and most sequences of XTEN_AF36 show good expression.

We screened 96 isolates from library LCW0403 for high level of fluorescence by stamping them onto agar plate containing IPTG. The same isolates were evaluated by PCR and 48 isolates were identified that contained segments with 36 amino acids as well as strong fluorescence. These isolates were sequenced and 44 clones were identified that contained correct XTEN_AF36 segments. The file names of the nucleotide and amino acid constructs for these segments are listed in Table 12.

TABLE 12 DNA and Amino Acid Sequences for 36-mer motifs File Amino acid SEQ ID SEQ ID name sequence NO: Nucleotide sequence NO: LCW040 GTSTPESGSASPG 454 GGTACTTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCCGCATCTCC 455 3_004_G TSPSGESSTAPGT AGGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCTC FP- SPSGESSTAP CAGGTACCTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACTGCT N_A01.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GTSPSGESSTAPG 456 GGTACTTCTCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCACC 457 3_005_G STSSTAESPGPGT AGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCGGGCC FP- SPSGESSTAP CAGGTACTTCTCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCT N_B01.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 458 GGTTCCACCAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCTGGTCC 459 3_006_G TSPSGESSTAPGT AGGTACCTCTCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCTC FP- STPESGSASP CAGGTACTTCTACTCCTGAAAGCGGCTCTGCTTCT N_C01.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 460 GGTTCTACCAGCTCTACTGCAGAATCTCCTGGCCC 461 3_007_G STSSTAESPGPGT AGGTTCCACCAGCTCTACCGCAGAATCTCCGGGTC FP- SPSGESSTAP CAGGTACTTCCCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCA N_D01.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 462 GGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCTGGCCC 463 3_008_G TSPSGESSTAPGT AGGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCTC FP STPESGSASP CAGGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCTGCATCT N_E01.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 464 GGTTCTACCAGCTCTACCGCAGAATCTCCTGGTCC 465 3_010_G TSTPESGSASPGS AGGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGCTCTGCATCTC FP- TSESPSGTAP CAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACTGCA N_F01.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 466 GGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCAGAATCTCCTGGCCC 467 3_011_G TSTPESGSASPGT AGGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGCTCTGCATCTC FP- STPESGSASP CAGGTACTTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGTTCTGCATCT N_G01.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSESPSGTAPG 468 GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACCGCTCC 469 3_012_G TSPSGESSTAPGS AGGTACCTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCTC FP- TSESPSGTAP CAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACTGCA N_H01.a CCA b1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 470 GGTTCCACCAGCTCTACTGCAGAATCTCCGGGCCC 471 3_013_G STSSTAESPGPGT AGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCAGAATCTCCGGGTC FP- SPSGESSTAP CAGGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCT N_A02.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 472 GGTTCCACTAGCTCTACTGCAGAATCTCCTGGCCC 473 3_014_G TSTPESGSASPGS AGGTACCTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGCTCTGCATCTC FP- TSESPSGTAP CAGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGCACCGCA N_B02.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 474 GGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCGGGTCC 475 3_015_G STSSTAESPGPGT AGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCTGGTC FP- SPSGESSTAP CAGGTACCTCCCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCA N_C02.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 476 GGTTCTACCAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCTGGCCC 477 3_017_G STSESPSGTAPGS AGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGCACCGCAC FP- TSSTAESPGP CAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCGGGT N_D02.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 478 GGTTCTACCAGCTCTACCGCAGAATCTCCTGGCCC 479 3_018_G STSSTAESPGPGS AGGTTCCACTAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCTGGTC FP- TSSTAESPGP CAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCTGGT N_E02.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSESPSGTAPG 480 GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGTACTGCTCC 481 3_019_G STSSTAESPGPGS AGGTTCCACTAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCTGGCC FP- TSSTAESPGP CAGGTTCCACTAGCTCTACTGCAGAATCTCCTGGT N_F02.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSESPSGTAPG 482 GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGTACCGCTCC 483 3_023_G STSESPSGTAPGS AGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGTACTGCTC FP- TSESPSGTAP CAGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGTACTGCA N_H02.a CCA b1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 484 GGTTCCACCAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCTGGCCC 485 3_024_G STSSTAESPGPGS AGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCGGGCC FP- TSSTAESPGP CAGGTTCCACCAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCGGGT N_A03.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 486 GGTTCCACTAGCTCTACCGCAGAATCTCCTGGTCC 487 3_025_G STSSTAESPGPGT AGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCGGGTC FP- SPSGESSTAP CAGGTACCTCCCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCT N_B03.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSSPSASTGTGPG 488 GGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCTTCCACCGGTACCGGCCC 489 3_028_G SSTPSGATGSPGS AGGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACTGGCTCTC FP- STPSGATGSP CAGGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCC N_D03.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GTSPSGESSTAPG 490 GGTACTTCCCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCTCC 491 3_029_G TSTPESGSASPGS AGGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGCTCCGCATCTC FP- TSSTAESPGP CAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCTGGT N_E03.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 492 GGTTCTACTAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCGGGTCC 493 3_030_G STSSTAESPGPGT AGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACTGCAGAATCTCCTGGCC FP- STPESGSASP CAGGTACTTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCT N_F03.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GTSPSGESSTAPG 494 GGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCTCC 495 3_031_G STSSTAESPGPGT AGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCTGGCC FP- STPESGSASP CAGGTACTTCTACCCCGGAAAGCGGCTCCGCTTCT N_G03.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSESPSGTAPG 496 GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGTACTGCACC 497 3_033_G STSSTAESPGPGS AGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCGGGCC FP- TSSTAESPGP CAGGTTCCACCAGCTCTACCGCAGAATCTCCTGGT N_H03.a CCA b1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 498 GGTTCCACCAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCGGGCCC 499 3_035_G STSESPSGTAPGS AGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGCACTGCAC FP- TSSTAESPGP CAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACCGCAGAATCTCCGGGC N_A04.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 500 GGTTCTACCAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCGGGTCC 501 3_036_G TSPSGESSTAPGT AGGTACTTCCCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCAC FP- STPESGSASP CAGGTACTTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCT N_B04.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSESPSGTAPG 502 GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACCGCTCC 503 3_039_G STSESPSGTAPGT AGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGTACCGCAC FP- SPSGESSTAP CAGGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCA N_C04.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSESPSGTAPG 504 GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGTACTGCTCC 505 3_041_G STSESPSGTAPGT AGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGCACCGCAC FP- STPESGSASP CAGGTACTTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGCTCCGCTTCT N_D04.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GTSTPESGSASPG 506 GGTACCTCTACTCCTGAAAGCGGTTCTGCATCTCC 507 3_044_G STSSTAESPGPGS AGGTTCCACTAGCTCTACCGCAGAATCTCCGGGCC FP- TSSTAESPGP CAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCTGGC N_E04.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSESPSGTAPG 508 GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGCACTGCACC 509 3_046_G STSESPSGTAPGT AGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGTACCGCAC FP- SPSGESSTAP CAGGTACTTCTCCGAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACTGCT N_F04.ab   CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 510 GGTTCTACTAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCTGGCCC 511 3_047_G STSSTAESPGPGS AGGTTCCACTAGCTCTACCGCAGAATCTCCGGGCC FP- TSESPSGTAP CAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGTACCGCT N_G04.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 512 GGTTCCACCAGCTCTACTGCAGAATCTCCTGGCCC 513 3_049_G STSSTAESPGPGT AGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACCGCAGAATCTCCTGGTC FP- STPESGSASP CAGGTACCTCTACTCCTGAAAGCGGTTCCGCATCT N_H04.a CCA b1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 514 GGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCGGGCCC 515 3_051_G STSSTAESPGPGS AGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCGGGTC FP- TSESPSGTAP CAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGTACCGCT N_A05.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GTSPSGESSTAPG 516 GGTACCTCCCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCACC 517 3_053_G STSESPSGTAPGS AGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGTACTGCTC FP- TSSTAESPGP CAGGTTCCACCAGCTCTACTGCAGAATCTCCGGGT N_B05.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSESPSGTAPG 518 GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGTACTGCTCC 519 3_054_G TSPSGESSTAPGS AGGTACTTCCCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCTC FP- TSSTAESPGP CAGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACCGCAGAATCTCCGGGT N_C05.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 520 GGTTCTACCAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCTGGCCC 521 3_057_G STSESPSGTAPGT AGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACCGCAC FP- SPSGESSTAP CAGGTACTTCCCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCA N_D05.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSESPSGTAPG 522 GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACTGCACC 523 3_058_G STSESPSGTAPGT AGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACTGCAC FP- STPESGSASP CAGGTACCTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCT N_E05.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GTSTPESGSASPG 524 GGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCCGCATCTCC 525 3_060_G STSESPSGTAPGS AGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGCACCGCAC FP- TSSTAESPGP CAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCGGGC N_F05.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 526 GGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCAGAATCTCCGGGCCC 527 3_063_G TSPSGESSTAPGT AGGTACCTCTCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCTC FP- SPSGESSTAP CAGGTACTTCTCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCT N_G05.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GTSPSGESSTAPG 528 GGTACCTCCCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACTGCTCC 529 3_064_G TSPSGESSTAPGT AGGTACCTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCTC FP- SPSGESSTAP CAGGTACCTCCCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCA N_H05.a CCA b1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 530 GGTTCCACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCTGGCCC 531 3_065_G TSTPESGSASPGS AGGTACTTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCTC FP- TSESPSGTAP CAGGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACCGCA N_A06.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSESPSGTAPG 532 GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACTGCTCC 533 3_066_G TSPSGESSTAPGT AGGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCTC FP- SPSGESSTAP CAGGTACTTCCCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCT N_B06.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSESPSGTAPG 534 GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGTACCGCTCC 535 3_067_G TSTPESGSASPGS AGGTACTTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGCTCCGCTTCTC FP- TSSTAESPGP CAGGTTCCACTAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCGGGT N_C06.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSSTAESPGPG 536 GGTTCCACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCTGGCCC 537 3_068_G STSSTAESPGPGS AGGTTCTACCAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCTGGCC FP- TSESPSGTAP CAGGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACCGCA N_D06.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSESPSGTAPG 538 GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGTACCGCACC 539 3_069_G TSTPESGSASPGT AGGTACTTCTACCCCGGAAAGCGGCTCTGCTTCTC FP- STPESGSASP CAGGTACTTCTACCCCGGAAAGCGGCTCCGCATCT N_E06.ab CCA 1 LCW040 GSTSESPSGTAPG 540 GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGTACTGCTCC 541 3_070_G TSTPESGSASPGT AGGTACTTCTACTCCTGAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCTC FP- STPESGSASP CAGGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCTGCATCT N_F06.ab CCA 1

Example 4 Construction of XTEN_AG36 Segments

A codon library encoding sequences of 36 amino acid length was constructed. The sequences were designated XTEN_AG36. Its segments have the amino acid sequence [X]₃ where X is a 12 mer peptide with the sequence: GTPGSGTASSSP (SEQ ID NO: 542), GSSTPSGATGSP (SEQ ID NO: 543), GSSPSASTGTGP (SEQ ID NO: 544), or GASPGTSSTGSP (SEQ ID NO: 545). The insert was obtained by annealing the following pairs of phosphorylated synthetic oligonucleotide pairs:

(SEQ ID NO: 546) AG1for: AGGTACYCCKGGYAGCGGTACYGCWTCTTCYTCTCC (SEQ ID NO: 547) AG1rev: ACCTGGAGARGAAGAWGCRGTACCGCTRCCMGGRGT (SEQ ID NO: 548) AG2for: AGGTAGCTCTACYCCKTCTGGTGCWACYGGYTCYCC (SEQ ID NO: 549) AG2rev: ACCTGGRGARCCRGTWGCACCAGAMGGRGTAGAGCT (SEQ ID NO: 550) AG3for: AGGTTCTAGCCCKTCTGCWTCYACYGGTACYGGYCC (SEQ ID NO: 551) AG3rev: ACCTGGRCCRGTACCRGTRGAWGCAGAMGGGCTAGA (SEQ ID NO: 552) AG4for: AGGTGCWTCYCCKGGYACYAGCTCTACYGGTTCTCC (SEQ ID NO: 553) AG4rev: ACCTGGAGAACCRGTAGAGCTRGTRCCMGGRGAWGC

We also annealed the phosphorylated oligonucleotide 3KpnIstopperFor: AGGTTCGTCTTCACTCGAGGGTAC (SEQ ID NO: 554) and the non-phosphorylated oligonucleotide pr_(—)3KpnIstopperRev: CCTCGAGTGAAGACGA (SEQ ID NO: 555). The annealed oligonucleotide pairs were ligated, which resulted in a mixture of products with varying length that represents the varying number of 12 mer repeats ligated to one BbsI/KpnI segment. The products corresponding to the length of 36 amino acids were isolated from the mixture by preparative agarose gel electrophoresis and ligated into the BsaI/KpnI digested stuffer vector pCW0359. Most of the clones in the resulting library designated LCW0404 showed green fluorescence after induction which shows that the sequence of XTEN_AG36 had been ligated in frame with the GFP gene and most sequences of XTEN_AG36 show good expression.

We screened 96 isolates from library LCW0404 for high level of fluorescence by stamping them onto agar plate containing IPTG. The same isolates were evaluated by PCR and 48 isolates were identified that contained segments with 36 amino acids as well as strong fluorescence. These isolates were sequenced and 44 clones were identified that contained correct XTEN_AG36 segments. The file names of the nucleotide and amino acid constructs for these segments are listed in Table 13.

TABLE 13 DNA and Amino Acid Sequences for 36-mer motifs File Amino acid SEQ ID SEQ ID name sequence NO: Nucleotide sequence NO: LCW040 GASPGTSSTGSP 556 GGTGCATCCCCGGGCACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTAC 557 4_001_G GTPGSGTASSSP TCCTGGTAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTA FP- GSSTPSGATGSP CTCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGTTCTCCA N_A07.ab 1 LCW040 GSSTPSGATGSP 558 GGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCAGGTTC 559 4_003_G GSSPSASTGTGP TAGCCCGTCTGCTTCTACCGGTACCGGTCCAGGTAGCTCTA FP- GSSTPSGATGSP CCCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGTTCTCCA N_B07.ab 1 LCW040 GASPGTSSTGSP 560 GGTGCATCTCCGGGTACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTTC 561 4_006_G GSSPSASTGTGP TAGCCCTTCTGCTTCCACTGGTACCGGCCCAGGTAGCTCTA FP- GSSTPSGATGSP CCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGTTCCCCA N_C07.ab 1 LCW040 GTPGSGTASSSP 562 GGTACTCCGGGCAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCCTCTCCAGGTAG 563 4_007_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCAACTGGTTCCCCAGGTGCATCCCC FP- GASPGTSSTGSP TGGTACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA N_D07.ab 1 LCW040 GTPGSGTASSSP 564 GGTACCCCTGGCAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCTTCTCCAGGTGC 565 4_009_G GASPGTSSTGSP TTCCCCTGGTACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTTCTAGAC FP- GSRPSASTGTG CTTCTGCATCCACCGGTACTGGTCCA N_E07.ab P 1 LCW040 GASPGTSSTGSP 566 GGTGCATCTCCTGGTACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTAG 567 4_011_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACTCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCAGGTGCTTCCCC FP- GASPGTSSTGSP GGGTACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA N_F07.ab 1 LCW040 GTPGSGTASSSP 568 GGTACCCCGGGCAGCGGTACCGCATCTTCCTCTCCAGGTAG 569 4_012_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGTTCCCCAGGTAGCTCTAC FP- GSSTPSGATGSP CCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCA N_G07.ab 1 LCW040 GASPGTSSTGSP 570 GGTGCATCTCCGGGCACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTGC 571 4_014_G GASPGTSSTGSP ATCCCCTGGCACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTGCTTCTCC FP- GASPGTSSTGSP TGGTACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCA N_H07.a b1 LCW040 GSSTPSGATGSP 572 GGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCAGGTTC 573 4_015_G GSSPSASTGTGP TAGCCCGTCTGCTTCCACTGGTACTGGCCCAGGTGCTTCCCC FP- GASPGTSSTGSP GGGCACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCA N_A08.ab 1 LCW040 GSSTPSGATGSP 574 GGTAGCTCTACTCCTTCTGGTGCTACCGGTTCCCCAGGTAG 575 4_016_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACTCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGTTCCCCAGGTACTCCGG FP- GTPGSGTASSSP GCAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCCTCTCCA N_B08.ab 1 LCW040 GSSTPSGATGSP 576 GGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGTTCCCCAGGTAG 577 4_017_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACTCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCCCCAGGTGCATCCCC FP- GASPGTSSTGSP TGGCACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA N_C08.ab 1 LCW040 GTPGSGTASSSP 578 GGTACTCCTGGTAGCGGTACCGCATCTTCCTCTCCAGGTTC 579 4_018_G GSSPSASTGTGP TAGCCCTTCTGCATCTACCGGTACCGGTCCAGGTAGCTCTA FP- GSSTPSGATGSP CTCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCA N_D08.ab 1 LCW040 GASPGTSSTGSP 580 GGTGCTTCCCCGGGCACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTTC 581 4_023_G GSSPSASTGTGP TAGCCCTTCTGCATCTACTGGTACTGGCCCAGGTACTCCGG FP- GTPGSGTASSSP GCAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCCTCTCCA N_F08.ab 1 LCW040 GSSTPSGATGSP 582 GGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCAGGTAG 583 4_025_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCAGGTGCTTCTCC FP- GASPGTSSTGSP GGGTACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCA N_G08.ab 1 LCW040 GTPGSGTASSSP 584 GGTACCCCTGGCAGCGGTACCGCTTCTTCCTCTCCAGGTAG 585 4_029_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCAGGTTCTAGCCC FP- GSSPSASTGTGP GTCTGCATCTACCGGTACCGGCCCA N_A09.ab 1 LCW040 GSSTPSGATGSP 586 GGTAGCTCTACTCCTTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCAGGTAC 587 4_030_G GTPGSGTASSSP CCCGGGCAGCGGTACCGCATCTTCCTCTCCAGGTACTCCGG FP- GTPGSGTASSSP GTAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCTTCTCCA N_B09.ab 1 LCW040 GTPGSGTASSSP 588 GGTACCCCGGGTAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCCTCTCCAGGTAG 589 4_031_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCTCCAGGTGCTTCTCC FP- GASPGTSSTGSP GGGCACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA N_C09.ab 1 LCW040 GSSTPSGATGSP 590 GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCAGGTAG 591 4_034_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCAGGTGCATCCCC FP- GASPGTSSTGSP GGGTACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA N_D09.ab 1 LCW040 GASPGTSSTGSP 592 GGTGCTTCTCCGGGCACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTAC 593 4_035_G GTPGSGTASSSP CCCGGGCAGCGGTACCGCATCTTCTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTA FP- GSSTPSGATGSP CTCCTTCTGGTGCAACTGGTTCTCCA N_E09.ab 1 LCW040 GSSPSASTGTGP 594 GGTTCTAGCCCGTCTGCTTCCACCGGTACTGGCCCAGGTAG 595 4_036_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCAACTGGTTCCCCAGGTACCCCTGG FP- GTPGSGTASSSP TAGCGGTACCGCTTCTTCTTCTCCA N_F09.ab 1 LCW040 GASPGTSSTGSP 596 GGTGCTTCTCCGGGCACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTTC 597 4_037_G GSSPSASTGTGP TAGCCCTTCTGCATCCACCGGTACCGGTCCAGGTAGCTCTA FP- GSSTPSGATGSP CCCCTTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCTCCA N_G09.ab 1 LCW040 GASPGTSSTGSP 598 GGTGCATCCCCGGGCACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTAG 599 4_040_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTAC FP- GSSTPSGATGSP CCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCA N_H09.a b1 LCW040 GTPGSGTASSSP 600 GGTACCCCTGGTAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCCTCTCCAGGTAG 601 4_041_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTACCCCGG FP- GTPGSGTASSSP GTAGCGGTACCGCATCTTCTTCTCCA N_A10.ab 1 LCW040 GSSPSASTGTGP 602 GGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCTTCCACCGGTACTGGCCCAGGTAG 603 4_043_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCCCCAGGTAGCTCTAC FP- GSSTPSGATGSP TCCTTCTGGTGCAACTGGCTCTCCA N_C10.ab 1 LCW040 GASPGTSSTGSP 604 GGTGCTTCTCCTGGCACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTTC 605 4_045_G GSSPSASTGTGP TAGCCCTTCTGCTTCTACCGGTACTGGTCCAGGTTCTAGCC FP- GSSPSASTGTGP CTTCTGCATCCACTGGTACTGGTCCA N_D10.ab 1 LCW040 GTPGSGTASSSP 606 GGTACTCCTGGCAGCGGTACCGCTTCTTCTTCTCCAGGTGC 607 4_047_G GASPGTSSTGSP TTCTCCTGGTACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTGCTTCTC FP- GASPGTSSTGSP CGGGCACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCA N_F10.ab 1 LCW040 GSSTPSGATGSP 608 GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGTTCCCCAGGTGC 609 4_048_G GASPGTSSTGSP TTCTCCTGGTACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTA FP- GSSTPSGATGSP CCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCA N_G10.ab 1 LCW040 GSSTPSGATGSP 610 GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTAC 611 4_049_G GTPGSGTASSSP TCCGGGCAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTA FP- GSSTPSGATGSP CCCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCA N_H10.a b1 LCW040 GASPGTSSTGSP 612 GGTGCATCTCCTGGTACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTTC 613 4_050_G GSSPSASTGTGP TAGCCCTTCTGCTTCTACCGGTACCGGTCCAGGTAGCTCTA FP- GSSTPSGATGSP CTCCTTCTGGTGCTACCGGTTCTCCA N_A11.ab 1 LCW040 GSSTPSGATGSP 614 GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCAGGTAG 615 4_051_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACTCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGTTCCCCAGGTAGCTCTA FP- GSSTPSGATGSP CCCCGTCTGGTGCAACTGGCTCTCCA N_B11.ab 1 LCW040 GASPGTSSTGSP 616 GGTGCATCCCCGGGTACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTAC 617 4_052_G GTPGSGTASSSP TCCTGGCAGCGGTACTGCATCTTCCTCTCCAGGTGCTTCTCC FP- GASPGTSSTGSP GGGCACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCA N_C11.ab 1 LCW040 GSSTPSGATGSP 618 GGTAGCTCTACTCCTTCTGGTGCAACTGGTTCTCCAGGTTC 619 4_053_G GSSPSASTGTGP TAGCCCGTCTGCATCCACTGGTACCGGTCCAGGTGCTTCCCC FP- GASPGTSSTGSP TGGCACCAGCTCTACCGMTCTCCA N_D11.ab 1 LCW040 GASPGTSSTGSP 620 GGTGCATCTCCTGGTACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTAG 621 4_057_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCTCCAGGTTCTAGCCC FP- GSSPSASTGTGP TTCTGCATCTACCGGTACTGGTCCA N_E11.ab 1 LCW040 GTPGSGTASSSP 622 GGTACTCCTGGCAGCGGTACCGCATCTTCCTCTCCAGGTAG 623 4_060_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACTGGTTCCCCAGGTGCTTCTCC FP- GASPGTSSTGSP GGGTACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA N_F11.ab 1 LCW040 GSSTPSGATGSP 624 GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCAGGTAC 625 4_062_G GTPGSGTASSSP TCCTGGTAGCGGTACCGCTTCTTCTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTA FP- GSSTPSGATGSP CTCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCCCCA N_G11.ab 1 LCW040 GSSPSASTGTGP 626 GGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCATCCACCGGTACCGGCCCAGGTTC 627 4_066_G GSSPSASTGTGP TAGCCCGTCTGCTTCTACCGGTACTGGTCCAGGTGCTTCTC FP- GASPGTSSTGSP CGGGTACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCA N_H11.a b1 LCW040 GTPGSGTASSSP 628 GGTACCCCGGGTAGCGGTACCGCTTCTTCTTCTCCAGGTAG 629 4_067_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCAGGTTCTAACCC FP- GSNPSASTGTG TTCTGCATCCACCGGTACCGGCCCA N_A12.ab P 1 LCW040 GSSPSASTGTGP 630 GGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCATCTACTGGTACTGGCCCAGGTAG 631 4_068_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACTCCTTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCAGGTGCTTCTCC FP- GASPGTSSTGSP GGGTACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA N_B12.ab 1 LCW040 GSSTPSGATGSP 632 GGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCTCCAGGTGC 633 4_069_G GASPGTSSTGSP ATCCCCGGGTACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTACTCCGG FP- GTPGSGTASSSP GTAGCGGTACCGCTTCTTCCTCTCCA N_C12.ab 1 LCW040 GSSTPSGATGSP 634 GGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGTTCCCCAGGTAG 635 4_070_G GSSTPSGATGSP CTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCAGGTAGCTCTAC FP- GSSTPSGATGSP CCCTTCTGGTGCAACTGGCTCTCCA N_D12.ab 1 LCW040 GASPGTSSTGSP 636 GGTGCTTCTCCTGGCACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTAC 637 4_073_G GTPGSGTASSSP CCCTGGTAGCGGTACCGCATCTTCCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTA FP- GSSTPSGATGSP CTCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGTTCCCCA N_E12.ab 1 LCW040 GSSTPSGATGSP 638 GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCCCCAGGTTC 639 4_075_G GSSPSASTGTGP TAGCCCTTCTGCATCCACCGGTACCGGTCCAGGTTCTAGCC FP- GSSPSASTGTGP CGTCTGCATCTACTGGTACTGGTCCA N_F12.ab 1 LCW040 GASPGTSSTGSP 640 GGTGCTTCCCCGGGCACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCAGGTTC 641 4_080_G GSSPSASTGTGP TAGCCCGTCTGCTTCTACTGGTACTGGTCCAGGTTCTAGCC FP- GSSPSASTGTGP CTTCTGCTTCCACTGGTACTGGTCCA N_G12.ab 1 LCW040 GASPGTSSTGSP 642 GGTGCTTCCCCGGGTACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTTC 643 4_081_G GSSPSASTGTGP TAGCCCTTCTGCTTCTACCGGTACCGGTCCAGGTACCCCTG FP- GTPGSGTASSSP GCAGCGGTACCGCATCTTCCTCTCCA N_H12.a b1

Example 5 Construction of XTEN_AE864

XTEN_AE864 was constructed from serial dimerization of XTEN_AE36 to AE72, 144, 288, 576 and 864. A collection of XTEN_AE72 segments was constructed from 37 different segments of XTEN_AE36. Cultures of E. coli harboring all 37 different 36-amino acid segments were mixed and plasmid was isolated. This plasmid pool was digested with BsaI/NcoI to generate the small fragment as the insert. The same plasmid pool was digested with BbsI/NcoI to generate the large fragment as the vector. The insert and vector fragments were ligated resulting in a doubling of the length and the ligation mixture was transformed into BL21Gold(DE3) cells to obtain colonies of XTEN_AE72.

This library of XTEN_AE72 segments was designated LCW0406. All clones from LCW0406 were combined and dimerized again using the same process as described above yielding library LCW0410 of XTEN_AE144. All clones from LCW0410 were combined and dimerized again using the same process as described above yielding library LCW0414 of XTEN_AE288. Two isolates LCW0414.001 and LCW0414.002 were randomly picked from the library and sequenced to verify the identities. All clones from LCW0414 were combined and dimerized again using the same process as described above yielding library LCW0418 of XTEN_AE576. We screened 96 isolates from library LCW0418 for high level of GFP fluorescence. 8 isolates with right sizes of inserts by PCR and strong fluorescence were sequenced and 2 isolates (LCW0418.018 and LCW0418.052) were chosen for future use based on sequencing and expression data.

The specific clone pCW0432 of XTEN_AE864 was constructed by combining LCW0418.018 of XTEN_AE576 and LCW0414.002 of XTEN_AE288 using the same dimerization process as described above.

Example 6 Construction of XTEN_AM144

A collection of XTEN_AM 144 segments was constructed starting from 37 different segments of XTEN_AE36, 44 segments of XTEN_AF36, and 44 segments of XTEN_AG36.

Cultures of E. coli harboring all 125 different 36-amino acid segments were mixed and plasmid was isolated. This plasmid pool was digested with BsaI/NcoI to generate the small fragment as the insert. The same plasmid pool was digested with BbsI/NcoI to generate the large fragment as the vector. The insert and vector fragments were ligated resulting in a doubling of the length and the ligation mixture was transformed into BL21Gold(DE3) cells to obtain colonies of XTEN_AM72.

This library of XTEN_AM72 segments was designated LCW0461. All clones from LCW0461 were combined and dimerized again using the same process as described above yielding library LCW0462. 1512 Isolates from library LCW0462 were screened for protein expression. Individual colonies were transferred into 96 well plates and cultured overnight as starter cultures. These starter cultures were diluted into fresh autoinduction medium and cultured for 20-30 h. Expression was measured using a fluorescence plate reader with excitation at 395 nm and emission at 510 nm. 192 isolates showed high level expression and were submitted to DNA sequencing. Most clones in library LCW0462 showed good expression and similar physicochemical properties suggesting that most combinations of XTEN_AM36 segments yield useful XTEN sequences. 30 isolates from LCW0462 were chosen as a preferred collection of XTEN_AM144 segments for the construction of multifunctional proteins that contain multiple XTEN segments. The file names of the nucleotide and amino acid constructs for these segments are listed in Table 14.

TABLE 14 DNA and amino acid sequences for AM144 segments SEQ SEQ Clone Sequence Trimmed ID NO: Protein Sequence ID NO: LCW4 GGTACCCCGGGCAGCGGTACCGCATCTTCCTCTCCA 644 GTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGA 645 62_r1 GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGTTCCCCA TGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSPA GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCA GSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGP GGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCTACCTCTACTGAGGAA GTSTEPSEGSAPGSSPSAST GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGTCTGGTCCA GTGPGSSPSASTGTGPGASP GGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA GTSSTGSPGTSTEPSEGSAP GGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCATCCACCGGTACCGGCCCA GTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSG GGTTCTAGCCCGTCTGCTTCTACCGGTACTGGTCCA SETP GGTGCTTCTCCGGGTACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCA GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCA GGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCA GGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACTCCA LCW4 GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGCACTGCACCA 646 GSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPS 647 62_r5 GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGTACCGCACCA GTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGTST GGTACTTCTCCGAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCA EPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAP GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA GTSESATPESGPGASPGTSS GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCA TGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASP GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGTCCA GTSSTGSPGSTSESPSGTAP GGTGCATCTCCTGGTACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA GSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESG GGTAGCTCTACTCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCA SASP GGTGCTTCCCCGGGTACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACTGCACCA GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACTGCACCA GGTACCTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCTCCA LCW4 GGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCA 648 GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATP 649 62_r9 GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCTGAGTCCGGCCCA ESGPGTSESATPESGPGTST GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCCGGTCCA EPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGP GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCTCCA GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSE GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAGTCCGGTCCA GSAPGSEPATSGSETPGSPA GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA GSPTSTEEGASPGTSSTGSP GGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA GSSPSASTGTGPGSSPSAST GGTAGCGAACCTGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACCCCA GTGP GGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCGACCTCCACCGAGGAA GGTGCTTCTCCTGGCACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCA GGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCTTCTACCGGTACTGGTCCA GGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCATCCACTGGTACTGGTCCA LCW4 GGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACCCCA 650 GSEPATSGSETPGTSESATP  651 62_r10 GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAATCTGGTCCA ESGPGTSESATPESGPGSTS GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAATCCGGTCCA ESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAP GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACCGCTCCA GTSPSGESSTAPGASPGTSS GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGTACCGCACCA TGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGSST GGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCACCA PSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSP GGTGCATCTCCGGGTACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA GSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSS GGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCTTCCACTGGTACCGGCCCA TGSP GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGTTCCCCA GGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGTTCCCCA GGTAGCTCTACTCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCCCCA GGTGCATCCCCTGGCACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA LCW4 GGTGCTTCTCCGGGCACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCA 652 GASPGTSSTGSPGSSPSAST 653 62_r15 GGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCATCCACCGGTACCGGTCCA GTGPGSSTPSGATGSPGTSE GGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCTCCA SATPESGPGSEPATSGSETP GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAATCTGGCCCA GSEPATSGSETPGTSESATP GGTAGCGAACCGGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACCCCA ESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTST GGTAGCGAACCGGCTACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACTCCA EPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAP GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAGTCCGGTCCA GTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSG GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA SETP GGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCA GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCA GGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCA GGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACTCCA LCW4 GGTACCTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA 654 GTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPT  655 62_r16 GGTAGCCCGGCAGGTTCTCCTACTTCCACTGAGGAA STEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSE GGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCTGAGGGTAGCGCACCA SATPESGPGSEPATSGSETP GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACTCCTGAGTCTGGCCCA GTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPT GGTAGCGAACCTGCTACCTCCGGCTCTGAGACTCCA STEEGTSESATPESGPGTST GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAATCTGGTCCA EPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETP GGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCTACCTCTACTGAGGAA GTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSG GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGTCTGGTCCA SETP GGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA GGTAGCGAACCTGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACTCCA GGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCTCCA GGTAGCGAACCTGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACTCCA LCW4 GGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA 656 GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSE 657 62_r20 GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAGGGCAGCGCTCCA GSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTST GGTACCTCTACCGAACCTTCTGAAGGTAGCGCACCA EPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAP GGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSE GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAGGGCAGCGCTCCA GSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSE GGTACCTCTACCGAACCTTCTGAAGGTAGCGCACCA SATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAP GGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCA GSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPT GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCTGAGTCCGGCCCA STEE GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCCGGTCCA GGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA GGTAGCGAACCTGCTACTTCTGGITCTGAAACCCCA GGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCGACCTCCACCGAGGAA LCW4 GGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCTCCA 658 GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSE 659 62_r23 GGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA GSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSTS GGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA ESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAP GGITCTACCAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGTACTGCTCCA GTSTPESGSASPGSEPATSG GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGCACCGCACCA SETPGTSESATPESGPGTST GGTACTTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGCTCCGCTTCTCCA EPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAP GGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACCCCA GTSESATPESGPGTSESATP GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCTGGCCCA ESGP GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCA GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGTAGCGCACCA GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAATCCGGCCCA GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAGTCCGGCCCA LCW4 GGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCA 660 GSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSAST  661 62_r24  GGITCTAGCCCGTCTGCTTCTACCGGTACCGGTCCA GTGPGSSTPSGATGSPGSPA GGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGTTCTCCA GSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEE GGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACTTCTACTGAGGAA GTSTEPSEGSAPGASPGTSS GGTAGCCCGGCTGGITCTCCGACTICTACTGAGGAA TGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGTPG GGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA SGTASSSPGSTSSTAESPGP GGTGCTTCCCCGGGCACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA GTSPSGESSTAPGTSTPESG GGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCATCTACTGGTACTGGCCCA SASP GGTACTCCGGGCAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCCTCTCCA GGITCTACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCTGGCCCA GGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCTCCA GGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCTGCATCTCCA LCW4 GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCTCCA 662 GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATP 663 62_r27  GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAGTCCGGTCCA ESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTST GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA EPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGP GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGTAGCGCACCA GTSESATPESGPGTPGSGTA GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAATCCGGCCCA SSSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASP GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAGTCCGGCCCA GTSSTGSPGSPAGSPTSTEE GGTACTCCTGGCAGCGGTACCGCTTCTTCTTCTCCA GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSE GGTGCTTCTCCTGGTACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCA GSAP GGTGCTTCTCCGGGCACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCA GGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACTTCTACTGAGGAA GGTAGCCCGGCTGGTTCTCCGACTTCTACTGAGGAA GGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA LCW4 GGTAGCCCAGCAGGCTCTCCGACTTCCACTGAGGAA 664 GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSE 665 62_r28 GGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCACCA GSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTST GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCTCCA EPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGP GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCTGAAGGTAGCGCACCA GTSESATPESGPGTPGSGTA GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACTCCTGAGTCCGGTCCA SSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASP GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAGTCTGGCCCA GTSSTGSPGTSTEPSEGSAP GGTACCCCGGGTAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCCTCTCCA GTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSE GGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCTCCA GSAP GGTGCTTCTCCGGGCACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCTCCA GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAGTCCGGTCCA GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA LCW4 GGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGCTCTGAAACTCCA 666 GSEPATSGSETPGTSESATP 667 62_r38  GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAATCCGGCCCA ESGPGSEPATSGSETPGSST GGTAGCGAACCGGCTACTTCCGGCTCTGAAACCCCA PSGATGSPGTPGSGTASSSP GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCA GSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSS GGTACTCCTGGTAGCGGTACCGCTTCTTCTTCTCCA TGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASP GGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCCCCA GTSSTGSPGSEPATSGSETP GGTGCATCTCCTGGTACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA GTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSG GGTAGCTCTACTCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCA SETP GGTGCTTCCCCGGGTACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA GGTAGCGAACCTGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACTCCA GGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCTCCA GGTAGCGAACCTGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACTCCA LCW4 GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA 668 GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSE 669 62_r39 GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCA GSAPGTSESATPESGPGSPA GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGTCCA GSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEE GGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACTTCTACTGAGGAA GTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPT GGTAGCCCGGCTGGTTCTCCGACTTCTACTGAGGAA STEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTST GGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA EPSEGSAPGASPGTSSTGSP GGTAGCCCGGCTGGTTCTCCGACTTCCACCGAGGAA GSSPSASTGTGPGSSPSAST GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCA GTGP GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA GGTGCTTCCCCGGGCACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCA GGTTCTAGCCCGTCTGCTTCTACTGGTACTGGTCCA GGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCTTCCACTGGTACTGGTCCA LCW4 GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGTTCCCCA 670 GSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSS 671 62_r41 GGTGCTTCTCCTGGTACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA TGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSPA GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCA GSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGP GGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACCGAAGAA GSEPATSGSETPGASPGTSS GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGCCCA TGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSP GGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACCCCA SASTGTGPGSTSESPSGTAP GGTGCATCTCCTGGTACTAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCA GSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESG GGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCTCCA SASP GGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCATCTACCGGTACTGGTCCA GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGTACTGCTCCA GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGCACCGCACCA GGTACTTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGCTCCGCTTCTCCA LCW4 GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACCGCTCCA 672 GSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPS 673 62_r42 GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGTACCGCACCA GTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSE GGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCACCA SATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAP GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAGTCTGGCCCA GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSE GGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCA GSAPGTSESATPESGPGTST GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA EPSEGSAPGSSTPSGATGSP GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCTCCA GASPGTSSTGSPGSSTPSGA GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCGGAGTCCGGTCCA TGSP GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGTTCCCCA GGTGCTTCTCCTGGTACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCA LCW4 GGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCAGAATCTCCGGGCCCA 674 GSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGES 675 62_r43 GGTACCTCTCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCTCCA STAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTS GGTACTTCTCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCTCCA STAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGP GGTTCTACTAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCGGGTCCA GTSTPESGSASPGTSPSGES GGTTCTACCAGCTCTACTGCAGAATCTCCTGGCCCA STAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTST GGTACTTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGITCCGCTTCTCCA PESGSASPGSTSSTAESPGP GGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCTCCA GSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGES GGTTCTACCAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCTGGCCCA STAP GGTACTTCTACCCCGGAAAGCGGCTCCGCTTCTCCA GGTTCTACCAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCTGGCCCA GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACCGCACCA GGTACTTCCCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCACCA LCW4 GGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCCGCATCTCCA 676 GTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPS 677 62_r45  GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGCACCGCACCA GTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTST GGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCGGGCCCA EPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAP GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA GTSESATPESGPGTSESATP GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCA ESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTST GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGTCCA EPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGP GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAGTCTGGCCCA GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSE GGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCA GSAP GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAGTCCGGTCCA GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA GGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCC LCW4 GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCA 678 GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSE 679 62_r47 GGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCA GSAPGSEPATSGSETPGTST GGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGTTCTGAAACTCCA EPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGP GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGTAGCGCACCA GTSESATPESGPGASPGTSS GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAATCCGGCCCA TGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGSST GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAGTCCGGCCCA PSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSP GGTGCATCTCCGGGTACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA GSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSS GGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCTTCCACTGGTACCGGCCCA TGSP GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGTTCCCCA GGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGITCCCCA GGTAGCTCTACTCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCCCCA GGTGCATCCCCTGGCACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA LCW4 GGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACTCCA 680 GSEPATSGSETPGSEPATSG 681 62_r54 GGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCCGGCTCTGAAACCCCA SETPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSEP GGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGCAGCGCACCA ATSGSETPGTSESATPESGP GGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACCCCA GTSTEPSEGSAPGSSTPSGA GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCTGGCCCA TGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASP GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCA GTSSTGSPGSSTPSGATGSP GGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCA GASPGTSSTGSPGSSTPSGA GGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCA TGSP GGTGCTTCTCCGGGTACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCA GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGTTCCCCA GGTGCTTCTCCTGGTACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCA LCW4 GGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCTCCA 682 GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSE 683 62_r55 GGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA GSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSE GGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA SATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAP GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAGTCCGGTCCA GTSTEPSEGSAPGSTSESPS GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA GTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSP GGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCA SGESSTAPGSPAGSPTSTEE GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACTGCTCCA GTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSE GGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCTCCA GSAP GGTACTTCCCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCTCCA GGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCTACCTCTACTGAGGAA GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGTCTGGTCCA GGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA LCW4 GGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA 684 GTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSG  685 62_r57 GGTAGCGAACCTGCTACTTCTGGTTCTGAAACCCCA SETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPA GGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCGACCTCCACCGAGGAA GSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGP GGTAGCCCGGCAGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACTGAGGAA GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSE GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAGTCCGGCCCA GSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSE GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCTGAGGGCAGCGCACCA SATPESGPGSSTPSGATGSP GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA GSSPSASTGTGPGASPGTSS GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCA TGSP GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGTCCA GGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCA GGTTCTAGCCCGTCTGCTTCCACTGGTACTGGCCCA GGTGCTTCCCCGGGCACCAGCTCTACTGGTTCTCCA LCW4 GGTAGCGAACCGGCTACTTCCGGCTCTGAGACTCCA 686 GSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPT  687 62_r61 GGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACCGAAGAA STEEGTSESATPESGPGTST GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACCCCTGAGTCTGGCCCA EPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAP GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA GTSESATPESGPGTSTPESG GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCA SASPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTS GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGTCCA STAESPGPGTSESATPESGP GGTACCTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCCGCATCTCCA GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSE GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGCACCGCACCA GSAP GGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCGGGCCCA GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAGTCCGGTCCA GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA GGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCA LCW4 GGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCTCCA 688 GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSE  689 62_r64 GGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA GSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTST GGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA EPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGP GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCTGAAGGTAGCGCACCA GTSESATPESGPGTPGSGTA GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACTCCTGAGTCCGGTCCA SSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASP GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAGTCTGGCCCA GTSSTGSPGSTSSTAESPGP GGTACTCCTGGCAGCGGTACCGCATCTTCCTCTCCA GTSPSGESSTAPGTSTPESG GGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACTGGTTCCCCA SASP GGTGCTTCTCCGGGTACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA GGTTCCACCAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCTGGTCCA GGTACCTCTCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCA GGTACTTCTACTCCTGAAAGCGGCTCTGCTTCTCCA LCW4 GGTAGCCCGGCAGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACTGAGGAA 690 GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATP  691 62_r67  GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAGTCCGGCCCA ESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSE GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCTGAGGGCAGCGCACCA SATPESGPGSEPATSGSETP GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGTCCA GTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPT GGTAGCGAACCGGCTACTTCTGGCTCTGAGACTCCA STEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTST GGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA EPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAP GGTAGCCCGGCTGGTTCTCCGACTTCCACCGAGGAA GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSE GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCA GSAP GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA GGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCTCCA GGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCTGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA GGTACTTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA LCW4 GGTACTTCTCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCACCA 692 GTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAE 693 62_r69  GGTTCTACTAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCGGGCCCA SPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSE GGTACTTCTCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCA SATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAP GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAGTCTGGCCCA GTSTEPSEGSAPGSSPSAST GGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCA GTGPGSSTPSGATGSPGASP GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA GTSSTGSPGTSTPESGSASP GGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCATCTACTGGTACTGGCCCA GTSPSGESSTAPGTSPSGES GGTAGCTCTACTCCTTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCA STAP GGTGCTTCTCCGGGTACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA GGTACTTCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCCGCATCTCCA GGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCA GGTACCTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCA LCW4 GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAGTCTGGCCCA 694 GTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSE  695 62_r70 GGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAGGGTAGCGCTCCA GSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPA GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA GSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEE GGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACTTCTACTGAGGAA GTSTEPSEGSAPGSSPSAST GGTAGCCCGGCTGGTTCTCCGACTTCTACTGAGGAA GTGPGSSTPSGATGSPGSST GGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA PSGATGSPGSEPATSGSETP GGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCTTCCACCGGTACTGGCCCA GTSESATPESGPGSEPATSG GGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCCCCA SETP GGTAGCTCTACTCCTTCTGGTGCAACTGGCTCTCCA GGTAGCGAACCGGCAACTTCCGGCTCTGAAACCCCA GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGTCTGGCCCA GGTAGCGAACCTGCTACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACCCCA LCW4 GGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA 696 GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSE 697 62_r72 GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAGGGCAGCGCTCCA GSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSST GGTACCTCTACCGAACCTTCTGAAGGTAGCGCACCA PSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSP GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACCGGTTCCCCA GSSTPSGATGSPGTSESATP GGTGCTTCTCCTGGTACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA ESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTST GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCA EPSEGSAPGSTSESPSGTAP GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGTCCA GSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESG GGTAGCGAACCGGCTACTTCTGGCTCTGAGACTCCA SASP GGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCACCA GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACTGCACCA GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACTGCACCA GGTACCTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCTCCA LCW4 GGTACCTCTACTCCTGAAAGCGGTTCTGCATCTCCA 698 GTSTPESGSASPGSTSSTAE 699 62_r73  GGTTCCACTAGCTCTACCGCAGAATCTCCGGGCCCA SPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGSSP GGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAATCTCCTGGCCCA SASTGTGPGSSTPSGATGSP GGTTCTAGCCCTTCTGCATCTACTGGTACTGGCCCA GASPGTSSTGSPGSEPATSG GGTAGCTCTACTCCTTCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCA SETPGTSESATPESGPGSPA GGTGCTTCTCCGGGTACTAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA GSPTSTEEGSTSESPSGTAP GGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCCGGCTCTGAAACCCCA GSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESG GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCCGGCCCA SASP GGTAGCCCGGCAGGTTCTCCGACTTCCACTGAGGAA GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACTGCACCA GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCGTCTGGCACTGCACCA GGTACCTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGTTCCGCTTCTCCC LCW4 GGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCTACCTCTACTGAGGAA 700 GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATP 701 62_r78 GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGTCTGGTCCA ESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSTS GGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA ESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAP GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCTCCTTCTGGCACCGCTCCA GTSPSGESSTAPGTSTEPSE GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGTACCGCACCA GSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTST GGTACTTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCACCA EPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETP GGTACCTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA GTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSE GGTAGCCCGGCAGGTTCTCCTACTTCCACTGAGGAA GSAP GGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCTGAGGGTAGCGCACCA GGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACCCCA GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCTGGCCCA GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCA LCW4 GGTACCTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA 702 GTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPT 703 62_r79 GGTAGCCCGGCAGGTTCTCCTACTTCCACTGAGGAA STEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSP GGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCTGAGGGTAGCGCACCA SGESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAP GGTACCTCCCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCA GTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESPS GGTACCTCTCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACCGCTCCA GTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTST GGTACCTCCCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCACCA PESGSASPGSEPATSGSETP GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGTACTGCTCCA GTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSE GGTTCTACCAGCGAATCCCCTTCTGGCACCGCACCA GSAP GGTAC'TTCTACCCCTGAAAGCGGCTCCGCTTCTCCA GGTAGCGAACCTGCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACCCCA GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAATCTGGCCCA GGTACTFCTACTGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCA LCW4 GGTAGCGAACCGGCAACCTCTGGCTCTGAAACCCCA 704 GSEPATSGSETPGTSESATP 705 62_r87 GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAATCTGGTCCA ESGPGTSESATPESGPGTSP GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGGAATCCGGTCCA SGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGP GGTACTTCTCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCACCA GTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESPS GGTTCTACTAGCTCTACCGCTGAATCTCCGGGCCCA GTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTS GGTACTTCTCCGAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCA STAESPGPGSSTPSGATGSP GGTTCTACTAGCGAATCCCCGTCTGGTACTGCTCCA GSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGA GGTACTTCCCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCA NWLS GGTTCTACCAGCTCTACCGCAGAATCTCCGGGTCCA GGTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCAACCGGTTCCCCA GGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCCCCA GGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCAAACTGGCTCTCC LCW4 GGTAGCCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACTTCTACTGAGGAA 706 GSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPT 707 62_r88 GGTAGCCCGGCTGGTTCTCCGACTTCTACTGAGGAA STEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTST GGTACTTCTACCGAACCTTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA EPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAP GGTACCTCTACTGAACCTTCCGAAGGCAGCGCTCCA GTSESATPESGPGASPGTSS GGTACCTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGCAGCGCACCA TGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASP GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCTGAATCCGGTCCA GTSSTGSPGSSTPSGATGSP GGTGCATCTCCTGGTACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA GTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGA GGTAGCTCTACTCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCA TGSP GGTGCTTCCCCGGGTACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCA GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGG1TCTCCA GGTACTCCGGGCAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCCTCTCCA GGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCA LCW4 GGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGTTCTCCA 708 GSSTPSGATGSPGTPGSGTA 709 62_r89 GGTACTCCGGGCAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCCTCTCCA SSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSPA GGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCTCCA GSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGP GGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCTACCTCTACTGAGGAA GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATP GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCTGAGTCTGGTCCA ESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSE GGTACCTCTACTGAACCGTCCGAAGGTAGCGCTCCA SATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAP GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACTCCTGAGTCTGGCCCA GTSESATPESGPGTSESATP GGTAGCGAACCTGCTACCTCCGGCTCTGAGACTCCA ESGP GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAATCTGGTCCA GGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGTAGCGCACCA GGTACTTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAATCCGGCCCA GGTACCTCTGAAAGCGCAACCCCGGAGTCCGGCCCA

Example 7 Construction of XTEN_AM288

The entire library LCW0462 was dimerized as described in Example 6 resulting in a library of XTEN_AM288 clones designated LCW0463. 1512 isolates from library LCW0463 were screened using the protocol described in Example 6. 176 highly expressing clones were sequenced and 40 preferred XTEN_AM288 segments were chosen for the construction of multifunctional proteins that contain multiple XTEN segments with 288 amino acid residues.

Example 8 Construction of XTEN_AM432

We generated a library of XTEN_AM432 segments by recombining segments from library LCW0462 of XTEN_AM144 segments and segments from library LCW0463 of XTEN_AM288 segments. This new library of XTEN_AM432 segment was designated LCW0464. Plasmid was isolated from cultures of E. coli harboring LCW0462 and LCW0463, respectively. 1512 isolates from library LCW0464 were screened using the protocol described in Example 6. 176 highly expressing clones were sequenced and 39 preferred XTEN_AM432 segment were chosen for the construction of longer XTENs and for the construction of multifunctional proteins that contain multiple XTEN segments with 432 amino acid residues.

In parallel we constructed library LMS0100 of XTEN_AM432 segments using preferred segments of XTEN_AM 144 and XTEN_AM288. Screening this library yielded 4 isolates that were selected for further construction

Example 9 Construction of XTEN_AM875

The stuffer vector pCW0359 was digested with BsaI and KpnI to remove the stuffer segment and the resulting vector fragment was isolated by agarose gel purification.

We annealed the phosphorylated oligonucleotide BsaI-AscI-KpnIforP: AGGTGCAAGCGCAAGCGGCGCGCCAAGCACGGGAGGTTCGTCTTCACTCGAGGGTAC (SEQ ID NO: 710) and the non-phosphorylated oligonucleotide BsaI-AscI-KpnIrev: CCTCGAGTGAAGACGAACCTCCCGTGCTTGGCGCGCCGCTTGCGCTTGC (SEQ ID NO: 711) for introducing the sequencing island A (SI-A) which encodes amino acids GASASGAPSTG (SEQ ID NO: 712) and has the restriction enzyme AscI recognition nucleotide sequence GGCGCGCC inside. The annealed oligonucleotide pairs were ligated with BsaI and KpnI digested stuffer vector pCW0359 prepared above to yield pCW0466 containing SI-A. We then generated a library of XTEN_AM443 segments by recombining 43 preferred XTEN_AM432 segments from Example 8 and SI-A segments from pCW0466 at C-terminus using the same dimerization process described in Example 5. This new library of XTEN_AM443 segments was designated LCW0479.

We generated a library of XTEN_AM875 segments by recombining segments from library LCW0479 of XTEN_AM443 segments and 43 preferred XTEN_AM432 segments from Example 8 using the same dimerization process described in Example 5. This new library of XTEN_AM875 segment was designated LCW0481.

Example 10 Construction of XTEN_AM1318

We annealed the phosphorylated oligonucleotide BsaI-FseI-KpnIforP: AGGTCCAGAACCAACGGGGCCGGCCCCAAGCGGAGGTTCGTCTTCACTCGAGGGTAC (SEQ ID NO: 713) and the non-phosphorylated oligonucleotide BsaI-FseI-KpnIrev: CCTCGAGTGAAGACGAACCTCCGCTGGGGCCGGCCCCGTTGGTTCTGG (SEQ ID NO: 714) for introducing the sequencing island B (SI-B) which encodes amino acids GPEPTGPAPSG (SEQ ID NO: 715) and has the restriction enzyme FseI recognition nucleotide sequence GGCCGGCC inside. The annealed oligonucleotide pairs were ligated with BsaI and KpnI digested stuffer vector pCW0359 as used in Example 9 to yield pCW0467 containing SI-B. We then generated a library of XTEN_AM443 segments by recombining 43 preferred XTEN_AM432 segments from Example 8 and SI-B segments from pCW0467 at C-terminus using the same dimerization process described in Example 5. This new library of XTEN_AM443 segments was designated LCW0480.

We generated a library of XTEN_AM 1318 segments by recombining segments from library LCW0480 of XTEN_AM443 segments and segments from library LCW0481 of XTEN_AM875 segments using the same dimerization process as in Example 5. This new library of XTEN_AM1318 segment was designated LCW0487.

Example 11 Construction of XTEN_AD864

Using the several consecutive rounds of dimerization, we assembled a collection of XTEN_AD864 sequences starting from segments of XTEN_AD36 listed in Example 1. These sequences were assembled as described in Example 5. Several isolates from XTEN_AD864 were evaluated and found to show good expression and excellent solubility under physiological conditions. One intermediate construct of XTEN_AD576 was sequenced. This clone was evaluated in a PK experiment in cynomolgus monkeys and a half-life of about 20 h was measured.

Example 12 Construction of XTEN_AF864

Using the several consecutive rounds of dimerization, we assembled a collection of XTEN_AF864 sequences starting from segments of XTEN_AF36 listed in Example 3. These sequences were assembled as described in Example 5. Several isolates from XTEN_AF864 were evaluated and found to show good expression and excellent solubility under physiological conditions. One intermediate construct of XTEN_AF540 was sequenced. This clone was evaluated in a PK experiment in cynomolgus monkeys and a half-life of about 20 h was measured. A full length clone of XTEN_AF864 had excellent solubility and showed half-life exceeding 60 h in cynomolgus monkeys. A second set of XTEN_AF sequences was assembled including a sequencing island as described in Example 9.

Example 13 Construction of XTEN_AG864

Using the several consecutive rounds of dimerization, we assembled a collection of XTEN_AG864 sequences starting from segments of XTEN_AD36 listed in Example 1. These sequences were assembled as described in Example 5. Several isolates from XTEN_AG864 were evaluated and found to show good expression and excellent solubility under physiological conditions. A full-length clone of XTEN_AG864 had excellent solubility and showed half-life exceeding 60 h in cynomolgus monkeys.

Example 14 Construction of N-Terminal Extensions of XTEN-Construction and Screening of 12 mer Addition Libraries

This example details a step in the optimization of the N-terminus of the XTEN protein to promote the initiation of translation to allow for expression of XTEN fusions at the N-terminus of fusion proteins without the presence of a helper domain. Historically expression of proteins with XTEN at the N-terminus was poor, yielding values that would essentially undetectable in the GFP fluorescence assay (<25% of the expression with the N-terminal CBD helper domain). To create diversity at the codon level, seven amino acid sequences were selected and prepared with a diversity of codons. Seven pairs of oligonucleotides encoding 12 amino acids with codon diversities were designed, annealed and ligated into the NdeI/BsaI restriction enzyme digested stuffer vector pCW0551 (Stuffer-XTEN_AM875-GFP), and transformed into E. coli BL21Gold(DE3) competent cells to obtain colonies of seven libraries. The resulting clones have N-terminal XTEN 12mers fused in-frame to XTEN_AM875-GFP to allow use of GFP fluorescence for screening the expression. Individual colonies from the seven created libraries were picked and grown overnight to saturation in 500 μl of super broth media in a 96 deep well plate. The number of colonies picked ranged from approximately half to a third of the theoretical diversity of the library (see Table 15).

TABLE 15 Theoretical Diversity and Sampling Numbers for 12 mer Addition Librabries. The amino acid residues with randomized codons are underlined. Motif Amino Acid Theoretical Number Library Family Sequence SEQ ID NO: Diversity screened LCW546 AE12 MASPAGSPTSTEE 716 572 2 plates (168) LCW547 AE12 MATSESATPESGP 717 1536 5 plates (420) LCW548 AF12 MATSPSGESSTAP 718 192 2 plates (168) LCW549 AF12 MESTSSTAESPGP 719 384 2 plates (168) LCW552 AG12 MASSTPSGATGSP 720 384 2 plates (168) LCW553 AG12 MEASPGTSSTGSP 721 384 2 plates (168) LCW554 (CBD-like) MASTPESGSSG 722 32 1 plate (84)

The saturated overnight cultures were used to inoculate fresh 500 μl cultures in auto-induction media in which they were grown overnight at 26° C. These expression cultures were then assayed using a fluorescence plate reader (excitation 395 nm, emission 510 nm) to determine the amount of GFP reporter present (see FIG. 9 for results of expression assays). The results, graphed as box and whisker plots, indicate that while median expression levels were approximately half of the expression levels compared to the “benchmark” CBD N-terminal helper domain, the best clones from the libraries were much closer to the benchmarks, indicating that further optimization around those sequences was warranted. This is in contrast to previous XTEN versions that were <25% of the expression levels of the CBD N-terminal benchmark. The results also show that the libraries starting with amino acids MA had better expression levels than those beginning with ME. This was most apparent when looking at the best clones, which were closer to the benchmarks as they mostly start with MA. Of the 176 clones within 33% of the CBD-AM875 benchmark, 87% begin with MA, where as only 75% of the sequences in the libraries beginning with MA, a clear over representation of the clones beginning with MA at the highest level of expression. 96 of the best clones were sequenced to confirm identity and twelve sequences (see Table 16), 4 from LCW546, 4 from LCW547 and 4 from LCW552 were selected for further optimization.

TABLE 16 Advanced 12 mer DNA Nucleotide Sequences SEQ Clone DNA Nucleotide Sequence ID NO: LCW5 ATGGCTAGTCCGGCTGGCTCTCCGACCT 723 46_02 CCACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACT LCW5 ATGGCTAGTCCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCT 724 46_06 CCACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACT LCW5 ATGGCTAGTCCAGCAGGCTCTCCTACCT 725 46_07 CCACCGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACT LCW5 ATGGCTAGTCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACCT 726 46_09 CTACTGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACT LCW5 ATGGCTACATCCGAAAGCGCAACCCCTG 727 47_03 AGTCCGGTCCAGGTACTTCTACT LCW5 ATGGCTACATCCGAAAGCGCAACCCCTG 728 47_06 AATCTGGTCCAGGTACTTCTACT LCW5 ATGGCTACGTCTGAAAGCGCTACTCCGG 729 47_10 AATCTGGTCCAGGTACTTCTACT LCW5 ATGGCTACGTCCGAAAGCGCTACCCCTG 730 47_17 AATCCGGTCCAGGTACTTCTACT LCW5 ATGGCTAGTTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCAA 731 52_03 CCGGTTCCCCAGGTACTTCTACT LCW5 ATGGCTAGCTCCACTCCGTCTGGTGCTA 732 52_05 CCGGTTCCCCAGGTACTTCTACT LCW5 ATGGCTAGCTCTACTCCGTCTGGTGCTA 733 52_10 CTGGTTCCCCAGGTACTTCTACT LCW5 ATGGCTAGTTCTACCCCTTCTGGTGCTA 734 52_11 CTGGTTCTCCAGGTACTTCTACT

Example 15 Construction of N-Terminal Extensions of XTEN-Construction and Screening of Libraries Optimizing Codons 3 and 4

This example details a step in the optimization of the N-terminus of the XTEN protein to promote the initiation of translation to allow for expression of XTEN fusions at the N-terminus of proteins without the presence of a helper domain. With preferences for the first two codons established (see Example supra), the third and fourth codons were randomized to determine preferences. Three libraries, based upon best clones from LCW546, LCW547 and LCW552, were designed with the third and fourth residues modified such that all combinations of allowable XTEN codons were present at these positions (see FIG. 10). In order to include all the allowable XTEN codons for each library, nine pairs of oligonucleotides encoding 12 amino acids with codon diversities of third and fourth residues were designed, annealed and ligated into the NdeI/BsaI restriction enzyme digested stuffer vector pCW0551 (Stuffer-XTEN_AM875-GFP), and transformed into E. coli BL21Gold(DE3) competent cells to obtain colonies of three libraries LCW0569-571. With 24 XTEN codons the theoretical diversity of each library is 576 unique clones. A total of 504 individual colonies from the three created libraries were picked and grown overnight to saturation in 500 μl of super broth media in a 96 deep well plate. This provided sufficient coverage to understand relative library performance and sequence preferences. The saturated overnight cultures were used to inoculate new 500 μl cultures in auto-induction media in which were grown overnight at 26° C. These expression cultures were then assayed using a fluorescence plate reader (excitation 395 nm, emission 510 nm) to determine the amount of GFP reporter present. The top 75 clones from the screen were sequenced and retested for GFP reporter expression versus the benchmark samples (see FIG. 11). 52 clones yielded usable sequencing data and were used for subsequent analysis. The results were broken down by library and indicate that LCW546 was the superior library. The results are presented in Table 17. Surprisingly, it was discovered that base-lined fluorescence readings for the best clones were ˜900 AU, whereas the CBD N-terminal benchmark was only ˜600 AU. This indicates that this library had instituted an approximately 33% improvement over the best clones from the previous library which were approximately equal in expression to the CBD N-terminal benchmark (Example 14).

TABLE 17 Third and Fourth Codon Optimization Library Comparison LCW569 LCW570 LCW571 N  21  15  16 Mean Fluorescence (AU) 628 491 537 SD 173  71 232 CV  28%  15%  43%

Further trends were seen in the data showing preferences for particular codons at the third and fourth position. Within the LCW569 library the glutamate codon GAA at the third position and the threonine codon ACT were associated with higher expression as seen in Table 18.

TABLE 18 Preferred Third and Fourth Codons in LCW569 3 = GAA Rest 4 = ACT Rest N   8  13  4  17 Mean Fluorescence (AU) 749 554 744 601 SD 234  47 197 162 CV  31%  9%  26%  27%

Additionally, the retest of the top 75 clones indicated that several were now superior to the benchmark clones.

Example 16 Construction of N-Terminal Extensions of XTEN-Construction and Screening of Combinatorial 12 mer and 36 mer Libraries

This example details a step in the optimization of the N-terminus of the XTEN protein to promote the initiation of translation to allow for expression of XTEN fusions at the N-terminus of proteins without the presence of a helper domain. With preferences for the first two codons established (see Example supra), the N-terminus was examined in a broader context by combining the 12 selected 12 mer sequences (see Example supra) at the very N-terminus followed by 125 previously constructed 36 mer segments (see example supra) in a combinatorial manner. This created novel 48 mers at the N-terminus of the XTEN protein and enabled the assessment of the impact of longer-range interactions at the N-terminus on expression of the longer sequences (FIG. 12). Similar to the dimerization procedures used to assemble 36 mers (see Example infra), the plasmids containing the 125 selected 36 mer segments were digested with restriction enzymes BbsI/NcoI and the appropriate fragment was gel-purified. The plasmid from clone AC94 (CBD-XTEN_AM875-GFP) was also digested with BsaI/NcoI and the appropriate fragments were gel-purified. These fragments were ligated together and transformed into E. coli BL21Gold(DE3) competent cells to obtain colonies of the library LCW0579, which also served as the vector for further cloning 12 selected 12 mers at the very N-terminus. The plasmids of LCW0579 were digested with NdeI/EcoRI/BsaI and the appropriate fragments were gel-purified. 12 pairs of oligonucleotides encoding 12 selected 12 mer sequences were designed, annealed and ligated with the NdeI/EcoRI/BsaI digested LCW0579 vector, and transformed into E. coli BL21Gold(DE3) competent cells to obtain colonies of the library LCW0580. With a theoretical diversity of 1500 unique clones, a total of 1512 individual colonies from the created library were picked and grown overnight to saturation in 500 μl of super broth media in a 96 deep well plate. This provided sufficient coverage to understand relative library performance and sequence preferences. The saturated overnight cultures were used to inoculate new 500 μl cultures in auto-induction media that were grown overnight at 26° C. These expression cultures were then assayed using a fluorescence plate reader (excitation 395 nm, emission 510 nm) to determine the amount of GFP reporter present. The top 90 clones were sequenced and retested for GFP reporter expression. 83 clones yielded usable sequencing data and were used for subsequent analysis. The sequencing data was used to determine the lead 12 mer that was present in each clone and the impact of each 12 mer on expression was assessed. Clones LCW546_(—)06 and LCW546_(—)09 stood out as being the superior N-terminus (see Table 19).

TABLE 19 Relative Performance of Clones Starting with LCW546 06 and LCW459 09 LCW546_06 All Others LCW546_09 All Others N  11  72  9  74 Mean 1100 752 988 775 Fluorescence (AU) SD  275 154 179 202 CV  25%  20%  18%  26%

The sequencing and retest also revealed several instances of independent replicates of the same sequence in the data producing similar results, thus increasing confidence in the assay. Additionally, 10 clones with 6 unique sequences were superior to the benchmark clone. They are presented in Table 20. It was noted that these were the only occurrences of these sequences and in no case did one of these sequences occur and fail to beat the bench-mark clone. These six sequences were advanced for further optimization.

TABLE 20 Combinatorial 12 mer and 36 mer Clones Superior to Benchmark Clone 12 mer 36 mer Clone Name First 60 codons SEQ ID NO: Name Name LCW580_51  ATGGCTAGTCCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACTGAGGAAGGTGCA 735 LCW5 LCW04 TCCCCGGGCACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCG 46_06 04_040 TCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCT ACTGGCTCTCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGCAGCGCA LCW580_81  ATGGCTAGTCCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACTGAGGAAGGTGCA 736 LCW5 LCW04 TCCCCGGGCACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCG 46_06  04_040 TCTGGTGCTACCGGCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCT ACTGGCTCTCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGCAGCGCA LCW580_38 ATGGCTAGTCCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACTGAGGAAGGTACT 737 LCW5 LCW04 TCTACCGAACCGTCCGAGGGTAGCGCACCAGGTAGCCCAGCAGGT 46_06 02_041 TCTCCTACCTCCACCGAGGAAGGTACTTCTACCGAACCGTCCGAG GGTAGCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGCAGCGCA LCW580_63 ATGGCTAGTCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACT 738 LCW5 LCW04 TCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGCAGCGCACCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCT 46_09  02_020 ACTTCCGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGTAGCCCAGCAGGTTCTCCAACT TCTACTGAAGAAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGCAGCGCA LCW580_06  ATGGCTAGTCCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACTGAGGAAGGTACC 739 LCW5 LCW04 CCGGGTAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCT 46_06  04_031 TCTGGTGCAACCGGCTCTCCAGGTGCTTCTCCGGGCACCAGCTCT ACCGGTTCTCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGCAGCGCA LCW580_35 ATGGCTAGTCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACT 740 LCW5 LCW04 TCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGCAGCGCACCAGGTAGCGAACCGGCT 46_09 02_020 ACTTCCGGTTCTGAAACCCCAGGTAGCCCAGCAGGTTCTCCAACT TCTACTGAAGAAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGCAGCGCA LCW580_67 ATGGCTAGTCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACC 741 LCW5 LCW04 TCCCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCAGGTACCTCTCCTAGC 46_09 03_064 GGCGAATCTTCTACCGCTCCAGGTACCTCCCCTAGCGGTGAATCT TCTACCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGCAGCGCA LCW580_13  ATGGCTAGTCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACC 742 LCW5 LCW04 TCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCCGCATCTCCAGGTTCTACCAGCGAA 46_09 03_060 TCCCCGTCTGGCACCGCACCAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAA TCTCCGGGCCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGCAGCGCA LCW580_88  ATGGCTAGTCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACC 743 LCW5 LCW04 TCCCCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCAGGTACCTCTCCTAGC 46_09 03_064 GGCGAATCTTCTACCGCTCCAGGTACCTCCCCTAGCGGTGAATCT TCTACCGCACCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGCAGCGCA LCW580_11  ATGGCTAGTCCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACC 744 LCW5 LCW04 TCTACTCCGGAAAGCGGTTCCGCATCTCCAGGTTCTACCAGCGAA 46_09 03_060 TCCCCGTCTGGCACCGCACCAGGTTCTACTAGCTCTACTGCTGAA TCTCCGGGCCCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGCAGCGCA

Example 17 Construction of N-Terminal Extensions of XTEN-Construction and Screening of Combinatorial 12 mer and 36 mer Libraries for XTEN-AM875 and XTEN-AE864

This example details a step in the optimization of the N-terminus of the XTEN protein to promote the initiation of translation to allow for expression of XTEN fusions at the N-terminus of proteins without the presence of a helper domain. With preferences for the first four codons (see Examples supra, and for the best pairing of N-terminal 12 mers and 36 mers (see Example supra) established, a combinatorial approach was undertaken to examine the union of these preferences. This created novel 48 mers at the N-terminus of the XTEN protein and enabled the testing of the confluence of previous conclusions. Additionally, the ability of these leader sequences to be a universal solution for all XTEN proteins was assessed by placing the new 48 mers in front of both XTEN-AE864 and XTEN-AM875. Instead of using all 125 clones of 36 mer segment, the plasmids from 6 selected clones of 36 mer segment with best GFP expression in the combinatorial library were digested with NdeI/EcoRI/BsaI and the appropriate fragments were gel-purified. The plasmids from clones AC94 (CBD-XTEN_AM875-GFP) and AC104 (CBD-XTEN_AE864-GFP) were digested with digested with NdeI/EcoRI/BsaI and the appropriate fragments were gel-purified. These fragments were ligated together and transformed into E. coli BL21Gold(DE3) competent cells to obtain colonies of the libraries LCW0585 (-XTEN_AM875-GFP) and LCW0586 (-XTEN_AE864-GFP), which could also serve as the vectors for further cloning 8 selected 12 mers at the very N-terminus. The plasmids of LCW0585 and LCW0586 were digested with NdeI/EcoRI/BsaI and the appropriate fragments were gel-purified. 8 pairs of oligonucleotides encoding 8 selected 12 mer sequences with best GFP expression in the previous (Generation 2) screening were designed, annealed and ligated with the NdeI/EcoRI/BsaI digested LCW0585 and LCW0586 vectors, and transformed into E. coli BL21Gold(DE3) competent cells to obtain colonies of the final libraries LCW0587 (XTEN_AM923-GFP) and LCW0588 (XTEN_AE912-GFP). With a theoretical diversity of 48 unique clones, a total of 252 individual colonies from the created libraries were picked and grown overnight to saturation in 500 μl of super broth media in a 96 deep well plate. This provided sufficient coverage to understand relative library performance and sequence preferences. The saturated overnight cultures were used to inoculate new 500 μl cultures in auto-induction media in which were grown overnight at 26° C. These expression cultures were then assayed using a fluorescence plate reader (excitation 395 nm, emission 510 nm) to determine the amount of GFP reporter present. The top 36 clones were sequenced and retested for GFP reporter expression. 36 clones yielded usable sequencing data and these 36 were used for the subsequent analysis. The sequencing data determined the 12 mer, the third codon, the fourth codon and the 36 mer present in the clone and revealed that many of the clones were independent replicates of the same sequence. Additionally, the retest results for these clones are close in value, indicating the screening process was robust. Preferences for certain combinations at the N-terminus were seen and were consistently yielding higher fluorescence values approximately 50% greater than the benchmark controls (see Tables 21 and 22). These date support the conclusion that the inclusion of the sequences encoding the optimized N-terminal XTEN into the fusion protein genes conferred a marked enhancement on the expression of the fusion proteins.

TABLE 21 Preferred N-terminal Combinations for XTEN-AM875 Number of Clone Name Replicates 12 mer 36 mer Mean SD CV CBD-AM875 NA NA NA 1715 418 16% LCW587_08 7 LCW546_06_3 = GAA LCW404_40 2333 572 18% LCW587_17 5 LCW546_09_3 = GAA LCW403_64 2172 293 10%

TABLE 22 Preferred N-terminal Combinations for XTEN-AE864 Number of Clone Name Replicates 12 mer 36 mer Mean SD CV AC82 NA NA NA 1979 679 24% LCW588_14 8 LCW546_06_opt3 LCW404_31 2801 240 6% LCW588_27 2 LCW546_06_opt34 LCW404_40 2839 556 15%

Notably, the preferred combination of the N-terminal for the XTEN-AM875 and the preferred combination for the XTEN-AE864 are not the same (Tables 21 and 22), indicating more complex interactions further than 150 bases from the initiation site influence expression levels. The sequences for the preferred nucleotide sequences are listed in Table 23 and the preferred clones were analyzed by SDS-PAGE to independently confirm expression (see FIG. 13). The complete sequences of XTEN_AM923 and XTEN_AE912 were selected for further analysis.

TABLE 23 Preferred DNA Nucleotide Sequences for first 48 Amino Acid Residues of N-terminal XTEN-AM875 and XTEN-AE864 XTEN Clone Name Modified Nucleotide Sequence SEQ ID NO LCW5 87_08 AM875 ATGGCTGAACCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACTGAGGAAGGTGCATCC 745 CCGGGCACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGT GCTACCGGCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCT CCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGCAGCGCA LCW5 87_17 AM875 ATGGCTGAACCTGCTGGCTCTCCGACCTCTACTGAGGAAGGTACCTCC 746 CCTAGCGGCGAATCTTCTACTGCTCCAGGTACCTCTCCTAGCGGCGAA TCTTCTACCGCTCCAGGTACCTCCCCTAGCGGTGAATCTTCTACCGCA CCAGGTACTTCTACTGAACCGTCTGAAGGCAGCGCA LCW5 88_14 AE864 ATGGCTGAACCTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACTGAGGAAGGTACCCCG 747 GGTAGCGGTACTGCTTCTTCCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCTTCTGGT GCAACCGGCTCTCCAGGTGCTTCTCCGGGCACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCT CCAGGTAGCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCTACCTCTACTGAG LCW5 88_27 AE864 ATGGCTGAAACTGCTGGCTCTCCAACCTCCACTGAGGAAGGTGCATCC 748 CCGGGCACCAGCTCTACCGGTTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGT GCTACCGGCTCTCCAGGTAGCTCTACCCCGTCTGGTGCTACTGGCTCT CCAGGTAGCCCCGGCTGGCTCTCCTACCTCTACTGAG

Example 18 Methods of Producing and Evaluating GPXTEN; XTEN-Ex4 as Example

A general schema for producing and evaluating GPXTEN compositions is presented in FIG. 6, and forms the basis for the general description of this Example. Using the disclosed methods and those known to one of ordinary skill in the art, together with guidance provided in the illustrative examples, a skilled artesian can create and evaluate a range of GPXTEN fusion proteins comprising, XTENs, GP and variants of GP known in the art. The Example is, therefore, to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitative of the methods in any way whatsoever; numerous variations will be apparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan. In this Example, a GPXTEN of exendin-4 (“Ex4”) linked to an XTEN of the AE family of motifs would be created.

The general schema for producing polynucleotides encoding XTEN is presented in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of representative steps in the assembly of a XTEN polynucleotide construct in one of the embodiments of the invention. Individual oligonucleotides 501 are annealed into sequence motifs 502 such as a 12 amino acid motif (“12-mer”), which is subsequently ligated with an oligo containing BbsI, and KpnI restriction sites 503. The motif libraries can be limited to specific sequence XTEN families; e.g., AD, AE, AF, AG, AM, or AQ sequences of Table 1. In this case, the motifs of the AE family would be used as the motif library, which are annealed to the 12-mer to create a “building block” length; e.g., a segment that encodes 36 amino acids. The gene encoding the XTEN sequence can be assembled by ligation and multimerization of the “building blocks” until the desired length of the XTEN gene 504 is achieved. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the XTEN length in this case is 48 amino acid residues, but longer lengths can be achieved by this process. For example, multimerization can be performed by ligation, overlap extension, PCR assembly or similar cloning techniques known in the art. The XTEN gene can be cloned into a stuffer vector. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the vector can encode a Flag sequence 506 followed by a stuffer sequence that is flanked by BsaI, BbsI, and KpnI sites 507 and a GP gene (e.g., exendin-4) 508, resulting in the gene encoding the GPXTEN 500, which, in this case encodes the fusion protein in the configuration, N- to C-terminus, XTEN-Ex4.

DNA sequences encoding Ex4 (or another candidate GP) can be conveniently obtained by standard procedures known in the art from a cDNA library prepared from an appropriate cellular source, from a genomic library, or may be created synthetically (e.g., automated nucleic acid synthesis) using DNA sequences obtained from publicly available databases, patents, or literature references. A gene or polynucleotide encoding the Ex4 portion of the protein can be then be cloned into a construct, such as those described herein, which can be a plasmid or other vector under control of appropriate transcription and translation sequences for high level protein expression in a biological system. A second gene or polynucleotide coding for the XTEN portion (in the case of FIG. 5 illustrated as an AE with 48 amino acid residues) can be genetically fused to the nucleotides encoding the N-terminus (or its complement) of the Ex4 gene by cloning it into the construct adjacent and in frame with the gene coding for the Ex4, through a ligation or multimerization step. Additional nucleotides encoding longer length XTEN can be ligated to the XTEN-Ex4 gene to achieve the desired length of the XTEN component. In addition, polynucleotides encoding XTEN can be ligated adjacent and in frame to the nucleotides encoding the C-terminus (or its complement) of the Ex4 sequence, resulting in a gene that encodes a GPXTEN with XTEN linked to both the N- and C-terminus of the exendin-4 glucose regulating peptide, including the optimized N-terminal sequence (NTS), as illustrated in FIG. 8. In this manner, a chimeric DNA molecule coding for (or complementary to) the XTEN-Ex4 GPXTEN fusion protein would be generated within the construct. The construct can be designed in different configurations to encode the various permutations of the fusion partners as a monomeric polypeptide. For example, the gene can be created to encode the fusion protein in the order (N- to C-terminus): Ex4-XTEN; XTEN-Ex4; Ex4-XTEN-Ex4; XTEN-Ex4-XTEN; as well as multimers of the foregoing. Optionally, this chimeric DNA molecule may be transferred or cloned into another construct that is a more appropriate expression vector. At this point, a host cell capable of expressing the chimeric DNA molecule would be transformed with the chimeric DNA molecule. The vectors containing the DNA segments of interest can be transferred into an appropriate host cell by well-known methods, depending on the type of cellular host, as described supra.

Host cells containing the XTEN-Ex4 expression vector would be cultured in conventional nutrient media modified as appropriate for activating the promoter. The culture conditions, such as temperature, pH and the like, are those previously used with the host cell selected for expression, and will be apparent to the ordinarily skilled artisan. After expression of the fusion protein, cells would be harvested by centrifugation, disrupted by physical or chemical means, and the resulting crude extract retained for purification of the fusion protein, as described below. For GPXTEN compositions secreted by the host cells, supernatant from centrifugation would be separated and retained for further purification.

Gene expression would be measured in a sample directly, for example, by conventional Southern blotting, Northern blotting to quantitate the transcription of mRNA [Thomas, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 77:5201-5205 (1980)], dot blotting (DNA analysis), or in situ hybridization, using an appropriately labeled probe, based on the sequences provided herein. Alternatively, gene expression would be measured by immunological of fluorescent methods, such as immunohistochemical staining of cells to quantitate directly the expression of gene product. Antibodies useful for immunohistochemical staining and/or assay of sample fluids may be either monoclonal or polyclonal, and may be prepared in any mammal. Conveniently, the antibodies may be prepared against the Ex4 sequence polypeptide using a synthetic peptide based on the sequences provided herein or against exogenous sequence fused to Ex4 and encoding a specific antibody epitope. Examples of selectable markers are well known to one of skill in the art and include reporters such as enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), beta-galactosidase (β-gal) or chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT).

The XTEN-Ex4 polypeptide product would be purified via methods known in the art. Procedures such as gel filtration, affinity purification, salt fractionation, ion exchange chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, hydroxyapatite adsorption chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, or gel electrophoresis are all techniques that may be used in the purification. Specific methods of purification are described in Robert K. Scopes, Protein Purification: Principles and Practice, Charles R. Castor, ed., Springer-Verlag 1994, and Sambrook, et al., supra. Multi-step purification separations are also described in Baron, et al., Crit. Rev. Biotechnol. 10:179-90 (1990) and Below, et al., J. Chromatogr. A. 679:67-83 (1994).

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the isolated XTEN-Ex4 fusion proteins would then be characterized for their chemical and activity properties. Isolated fusion protein would be characterized, e.g., for sequence, purity, apparent molecular weight, solubility and stability using standard methods known in the art. The fusion protein meeting expected standards would then be evaluated for activity, which can be measured in vitro or in vivo, using one or more assays disclosed herein; e.g., the assays of the Examples or Table 35.

In addition, the XTEN-Ex4 fusion protein would be administered to one or more animal species to determine standard pharmacokinetic parameters, as described in Example 25.

By the iterative process of producing, expressing, and recovering XTEN-Ex4 constructs, followed by their characterization using methods disclosed herein or others known in the art, the GPXTEN compositions comprising Ex4 and an XTEN can be produced and evaluated by one of ordinary skill in the art to confirm the expected properties such as enhanced solubility, enhanced stability, improved pharmacokinetics and reduced immunogenicity, leading to an overall enhanced therapeutic activity compared to the corresponding unfused Ex4. For those fusion proteins not possessing the desired properties, a different sequence can be constructed, expressed, isolated and evaluated by these methods in order to obtain a composition with such properties.

Example 19 Construction of Exendin-4_XTEN Genes and Vectors

A cellulose binding domain (CBD) was assembled with an exendin-4 encoding sequence and genetically fused to an encoding sequence for the N-terminus of XTEN. The CBD is immediately followed by a tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease cleavage site (ENLYFQ (SEQ ID NO: 749)) for processing the native N-terminus of exendin-4. The CBD-Exendin-4 fragment was assembled by amplifying the CBD gene using a 3′ oligonucleotide that fuses the exendin-4 sequence preceded by the TEV cleavage site resulting in an in frame fusion of the exendin-4 to the C-terminus of the CBD gene. The full-length CBD-exendin-4 was then amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which introduced NdeI and BbsI restriction sites that are compatible with the NdeI and BsaI sites that flank the stuffer in the XTEN destination vector (FIG. 7A). The prXTEN plasmid is a pET30 derivative from Novagen in which a Stuffer-XTEN sequence has been inserted under control of the T7 promoter, where Stuffer can be a sequence encoding either green fluorescent protein (GFP) or CBD, depending on the specific plasmid used. The XTEN can be any length from 36 to 864 amino acids or greater again depending on the specific plasmid used. Constructs were generated by replacing the stuffer sequence in prXTEN with the CBD-exendin-4-encoding fragment (FIG. 7B). The prXTEN features a T7 promoter upstream of the stuffer sequence, and an XTEN sequence fused in-frame downstream of the stuffer sequence. The XTEN sequence employed in this specific example encodes AE864 with 864 amino acids. The stuffer fragment was removed by restriction digest using NdeI and BsaI endonucleases. Restriction digested CBD-exendin-4 fragments were ligated into the cleaved pXTEN vector using T4 DNA ligase and electroporated into BL21(DE3) Gold (Stratagene). Transformants were screened by DNA miniprep and the desired construct was confirmed by DNA sequencing. The final vector yields the CBD_exendin-4_XTEN gene under the control of a T7 promoter.

Example 20 Construction of Glucagon-XTEN Genes and Vectors

A cellulose binding domain (CBD) was assembled with a glucagon encoding sequence and genetically fused to an encoding sequence for the XTEN. The CBD is immediately followed by a tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease cleavage site (ENLYFQ (SEQ ID NO: 750)) for processing the native N-terminus of glucagon. The CBD-Glucagon fragment was assembled by amplifying the CBD gene using a 3′ oligonucleotide that fuses the glucagon sequence preceded by the TEV cleavage site resulting in an in frame fusion of the Glucagon to the C-terminus of the CBD gene. The full-length CBD-Glucagon was then amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which introduced NdeI and BbsI restriction sites that are compatible with the NdeI and BsaI sites that flank the stuffer in the XTEN destination vector (pXTEN; FIG. 9A). The pXTEN plasmid is a pET30 derivative from Novagen in which a Stuffer-XTEN sequence has been inserted under control of the T7 promoter, where Stuffer can be a sequence encoding either green fluorescent protein (GFP) or CBD, depending on the specific plasmid used. The XTEN can be any length from 36 to 875 amino acids or greater again depending on the specific plasmid used. Constructs were generated by replacing the stuffer sequence in prXTEN with the CBD-glucagon-encoding fragment. The pXTEN features a T7 promoter upstream of the stuffer sequence, and an XTEN sequence fused in-frame downstream of the stuffer sequence. The XTEN sequences employed in this specific example belong to the Y family of XTEN and encode lengths that include 36, 72, 144, 288, and 576 amino acids. The stuffer fragment was removed by restriction digest using NdeI and BsaI endonucleases. Restriction digested CBD-Glucagon fragments were ligated into the cleaved prXTEN vector using T4 DNA ligase and electroporated into BL21(DE3) Gold (Stratagene). Transformants were screened by DNA miniprep and the desired construct was confirmed by DNA sequencing. The final vector yields the CBD_glucagon_XTEN gene under the control of a T7 promoter. The resulting DNA sequences can encode glucagon linked to XTEN lengths of 36, 72, 144, 288, and 576 amino acids, respectively.

Example 21 Purification and Characterization of Gcg-XTEN

The GPXTEN of glucagon linked to XTEN was produced recombinantly in E. coli and purified to homogeneity using three column steps. The final construct comprised the gene encoding the cellulosome anchoring protein cohesion region cellulose binding domain (CBD) from C. thermocellum (accession #ABN54273), a tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease recognition site (ENLYFQ (SEQ ID NO: 750)), the glucagon sequence, and the appropriate XTEN sequence under control of a T7 promoter. Briefly, protein expression was induced by addition of 1 mM IPTG to a log phase culture of BL21-Gold (DE3) E. coli carrying the expression plasmid. TEV protease was added to heat-treated cell lysate containing Gcg-XTEN to remove the CBD sequence and generate the native N-terminus of glucagon. The cleaved protein was then purified over DE52, MacroCap Q, and Butyl Sepharose FF columns. The final material was formulated in 20 mM Tris pH 7.5, 135 mM NaCl and sterile filtered using a 0.22 micron filter. Expression was determined to be approximately 7 mg protein per gram wet cell weight (˜100 mg/L at final OD˜4) and overall purification yield was approximately 60%.

Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) was performed using a TSK-Gel, G3000 SWXL, 7.8×300 mm HPLC column (Tosoh Bioscience) connected to an HPLC system equipped with an autosampler and UV/VIS detector (Shimadzu). The system was equilibrated in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min at ambient temperature. For column calibration, a gel filtration standard (BioRad, cat#151-1901) was used. For sample analysis, 20 μl of 1 mg/ml Gcg-XTEN was injected and absorbance was monitored for 20 min using OD214 nm.

Reverse phase C18 chromatography (RPC18) was performed using a Phenomenex Gemini 5 μm C18-110A, 4.6×100 mm column (Phenomenex) connected to an HPLC system equipped with an autosampler and UV/VIS detector (Shimadzu). Buffer A was 0.1% TFA in water and Buffer B was 0.1% TFA in 100% acetonitrile. The system was run with a combined flowrate of 1 ml/min. The column was equilibrated in 5% Buffer B at 35° C. The chromatographic separation of Gcg-XTEN was achieved by a linear gradient from 5% to 95% B over 15 minutes. For sample analysis, 10 μl of 1 mg/ml Gcg-XTEN was injected and absorbance was monitored using OD214 nm. Sample analyses were performed by Millipore's GPCRProfiler® service using a transfected GcgR cell line (Cat# HTS112C). Calcium flux was monitored in real-time by FLIPR analysis after addition of serial dilutions of Gcg-XTEN or synthetic glucagon. The results of the characterization and stability assays are shown in FIG. 19. The data show that Gcg-XTEN is a homogeneous, well-defined chemical entity. In addition, the solubility and stability of the final protein are significantly improved over unmodified glucagon (data not shown).

Example 22 Analytical Size Exclusion Chromatography of XTEN Fusion Proteins with Diverse Payloads

Size exclusion chromatography analysis was performed on fusion proteins containing various therapeutic proteins and unstructured recombinant proteins of increasing length. An exemplary assay used a TSKGel-G4000 SWXL (7.8 mm×30 cm) column in which 40 μg of purified glucagon fusion protein at a concentration of 1 mg/ml was separated at a flow rate of 0.6 ml/min in 20 mM phosphate pH 6.8, 114 mM NaCl. Chromatogram profiles were monitored using OD214 nm and OD280 nm. Column calibration for all assays were performed using a size exclusion calibration standard from BioRad; the markers include thyroglobulin (670 kDa), bovine gamma-globulin (158 kDa), chicken ovalbumin (44 kDa), equine myoglobuin (17 kDa) and vitamin B12 (1.35 kDa). Representative chromatographic profiles of Glucagon-Y288, Glucagon-Y144, Glucagon-Y72, Glucagon-Y36 are shown as an overlay in FIG. 16. The data show that the apparent molecular weight of each compound is proportional to the length of the attached XTEN sequence. However, the data also show that the apparent molecular weight of each construct is significantly larger than that expected for a globular protein (as shown by comparison to the standard proteins run in the same assay and by comparison to molecular weight standards shown in the SDS gel of FIG. 15). Based on the SEC analyses for all constructs evaluated, including GPXTEN compositions, the Apparent Molecular Weights, the Apparent Molecular Weight Factor (expressed as the ratio of Apparent Molecular Weight to the calculated molecular weight) and the hydrodynamic radius (R_(H) in nm) are shown in Table 24. The results indicate that incorporation of different XTENs of 576 amino acids or greater confers an apparent molecular weight for the fusion protein of approximately 339 kDa to 760, and that XTEN of 864 amino acids or greater confers an apparent molecular weight greater than approximately 800 kDA. The results of proportional increases in apparent molecular weight to actual molecular weight were consistent for fusion proteins created with XTEN from several different motif families; i.e., AD, AE, AF, AG, and AM, with increases of at least four-fold and ratios as high as about 17-fold. Additionally, the incorporation of XTEN fusion partners with 576 amino acids or more into fusion proteins with the various payloads (and 288 residues in the case of glucagon fused to Y288) resulted with a hydrodynamic radius of 7 nm or greater; well beyond the glomerular pore size of approximately 3-5 nm. Accordingly, it is concluded that fusion proteins comprising growth and XTEN would have reduced renal clearance, contributing to increased terminal half-life and improving the therapeutic or biologic effect relative to a corresponding un-fused biologic payload protein.

TABLE 24 SEC analysis of various polypeptides XTEN Appar- Apparent Con- or Thera- Actual ent Molecular struct fusion peutic MW MW Weight R_(H) Name partner Protein (kDa) (kDa) Factor (nm) AC14 Y288 Glucagon 28.7 370 12.9 7.0 AC28 Y144 Glucagon 16.1 117 7.3 5.0 AC34 Y72 Glucagon 9.9 58.6 5.9 3.8 AC33 Y36 Glucagon 6.8 29.4 4.3 2.6 AC89 AF120 Glucagon 14.1 76.4 5.4 4.3 AC88 AF108 Glucagon 13.1 61.2 4.7 3.9 AC73 AF144 Glucagon 16.3 95.2 5.8 4.7 AC53 AG576 GFP 74.9 339 4.5 7.0 AC39 AD576 GFP 76.4 546 7.1 7.7 AC41 AE576 GFP 80.4 760 9.5 8.3 AC52 AF576 GFP 78.3 526 6.7 7.6 AC85 AE864 Exendin-4 83.6 938 11.2 8.9 AC114 AM875 Exendin-4 82.4 1344 16.3 9.4 AC143 AM875 hGH 100.6 846 8.4 8.7 AC227 AM875 IL-1ra 95.4 1103 11.6 9.2 AC228 AM1296 IL-1ra 134.8 2286 17.0 10.5

Example 23 Pharmacokinetics of Extended Polypeptides Fused to GFP in Cynomolgus Monkeys

The pharmacokinetics of GFP-L288, GFP-L576, GFP-XTEN_AF576, GFP-XTEN_Y576 and XTEN_AD836-GFP were tested in cynomolgus monkeys to determine the effect of composition and length of the unstructured polypeptides on PK parameters. Blood samples were analyzed at various times after injection and the concentration of GFP in plasma was measured by ELISA using a polyclonal antibody against GFP for capture and a biotinylated preparation of the same polyclonal antibody for detection. Results are summarized in FIG. 26. They show a surprising increase of half-life with increasing length of the XTEN sequence. For example, a half-life of 10 h was determined for GFP-XTEN_L288 (with 288 amino acid residues in the XTEN). Doubling the length of the unstructured polypeptide fusion partner to 576 amino acids increased the half-life to 20-22 h for multiple fusion protein constructs; i.e., GFP-XTEN_L576, GFP-XTEN_AF576, GFP-XTEN_Y576. A further increase of the unstructured polypeptide fusion partner length to 836 residues resulted in a half-life of 72-75 h for XTEN_AD836-GFP. Thus, increasing the polymer length by 288 residues from 288 to 576 residues increased in vivo half-life by about 10 h. However, increasing the polypeptide length by 260 residues from 576 residues to 836 residues increased half-life by more than 50 h. These results show that there is a surprising threshold of unstructured polypeptide length that results in a greater than proportional gain in in vivo half-life. Thus, fusion proteins comprising extended, unstructured polypeptides are expected to have the property of enhanced pharmacokinetics compared to polypeptides of shorter lengths.

Example 24 Serum Stability of XTEN

A fusion protein containing XTEN_AE864 fused to the N-terminus of GFP was incubated in monkey plasma and rat kidney lysate for up to 7 days at 37° C. Samples were withdrawn at time 0, Day 1 and Day 7 and analyzed by SDS PAGE followed by detection using Western analysis and detection with antibodies against GFP as shown in FIG. 14. The sequence of XTEN_AE864 showed negligible signs of degradation over 7 days in plasma. However, XTEN_AE864 was rapidly degraded in rat kidney lysate over 3 days. The in vivo stability of the fusion protein was tested in plasma samples wherein the GFP-AE864 was immunoprecipitated and analyzed by SDS PAGE as described above. Samples that were withdrawn up to 7 days after injection showed very few signs of degradation. The results demonstrate the resistance of GPXTEN to degradation due to serum proteases; a factor in the enhancement of pharmacokinetic properties of the GPXTEN fusion proteins.

Example 25 PK Analysis of Fusion Proteins Comprising Exendin-4 and XTEN

The GPXTEN fusion protein Ex4_AE864 was evaluated in cynomolgus monkeys in order to determine in vivo pharmacokinetic parameters of the fusion proteins after a single subcutaneous dose.

Methods:

The GPXTEN fusion protein was formulated in 20 mM Tris, pH 7.5, 135 mM NaCl at two different concentrations; 8 mg/mL and 40 mg/mL. Three groups of four monkeys (2 males and 2 females, 2-6 kg) each were dosed at 1 mg/kg (Group 1, 0.125 mL/kg), 1 mg/kg (Group 2, 0.025 mL/kg), or 5 mg/kg (Group 3, 0.125 mL/kg) via bolus injection between the skin and underlying layers of tissue in the scapular region on the back of each animal. Serial blood samples (1 ml±0.5 ml) were drawn over fourteen days from the femoral vein or artery of previously acclimated animals through a syringe with no aesthesia utilizing chair restraint. If necessary, chair restraint was utilized for a maximum of 30 minutes. All animals were fasted overnight prior to dosing and through the first 4 hours of blood sample collection (food was returned within 30 minutes following collection of the last blood sample at the 4 hour collection interval, where applicable). Each blood sample was collected into heparin plasma separator and kept on ice (2° C. to 8° C.) for approximately 5 minutes pending centrifugation. The blood samples were centrifuged (8,000×g for 5 min) and the plasma was transferred into a polypropylene tube. Plasma samples were snap frozen, and stored at approximately −70° C. until assayed. Analysis was performed using a sandwich ELISA format.

Results:

The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated for the monkeys and the results are tabulated in Table 25. The pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed using both a naïve pooling of all animals and using a standard two-stage analysis. The results show a difference in absorption of the fusion protein, based on dose volume administered in Group 1 versus Group 2, as evidenced by the Tmax, Cmax, AUC and volume of distribution (Vz) values. However, the calculated half-life values are comparable across the three Groups, and greatly exceed the reported terminal half-life of exenatide of 2.4 h.

TABLE 25 Pharmacokinetic Parameters Calculated from Group Average for Administered GPXTEN. Parameter Group 1 Avg Group 2 Avg Group 3 Avg Tmax 96 24 48 Cmax 4,860 3,879 18,713 Lambda_z_lower 96 96 96 Lambda_z_upper 336 336 336 t1/2_Lambda_z 83.8 76.8 74.0 AUCall 739,850 524,615 2,445,751 Vz(observed)/F 579 871 986 Cl(observed)/F 4.8 7.9 9.2 Vz(observed)/F 148 199 207

Conclusions:

The linking of exendin-4 to XTEN to create a GPXTEN fusion results in significant enhancement of pharmacokinetic parameters for all three formulations, as demonstrated in the primate model, with an increase of at least 30-fold in the half-life.

Example 26 Use of GPXTEN in Diet-Induced Obese Mouse Model

The effects of combination therapy of glucose regulating peptides linked to XTEN were evaluated in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity to confirm the utility of fixed combinations of monomeric fusion proteins as a single GPXTEN composition.

Methods:

The effects of combination therapy of glucagon linked to Y-288-XTEN (“Gcg-XTEN”) and exenatide linked to AE576-XTEN (“Ex4-XTEN”) or exenatide singly were tested in male C57BL/6J Diet-Induced Obese (D10) Mice, age 10 weeks old. Mice raised on a 60% high fat diet were randomized into the treatment groups (n=10 per group) Ex4-XTEN864 (10 mg/kg IP Q2D), Ex4-XTEN864 (20 mg/kg IP Q4D), Ex4-XTEN864 (10 mg/kg IP Q2D) plus Gcg-XTEN288 (20 μg/kg IP BID), and Ex4-XTEN864 (20 mg/kg IP Q4D) plus Gcg-XTEN288 (40 μg/kg IP Q1D). A placebo group (n=10) treated with 20 mM Tris pH 7.5, 135 mM NaCl IP Q1D was tested in parallel. All groups were dosed continuously for 28 days. Body weight was monitored at regular intervals throughout the study and fasting blood glucose was measured before and after the treatment period. Groups were dosed continuously for a 28 day treatment period. Body weight was monitored continuously throughout the study and fasting blood glucose was measured before and after the treatment period, and lipid levels were determined after the treatment period.

Results:

The results are shown in FIGS. 23-25. The data indicate that continuous dosing for one month yielded a significant reduction in weight gain in the animals treated with Gcg-XTEN alone and Ex4-XTEN alone, relative to placebo over the course of the study. In addition, animals dosed with Ex4-XTEN or Gcg-XTEN and Ex4-XTEN concurrently showed a statistically significantly greater weight loss compared to Gcg-XTEN administered alone and compared to placebo. The toxic effects of glucagon administration are well documented. The maximum no-effect dose for glucagon in rats and beagle dogs has recently been reported as 1 mg/kg/day was regarded as a clear no-toxic-effect-level in both species (Eistrup C, Glucagon produced by recombinant DNA technology: repeated dose toxicity studies, intravenous administration to CD rats and beagle dogs for four weeks. Pharmacol Toxicol. 1993 August; 73(2):103-108).

The data also show that continuous dosing for one month yielded a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose for the animals treated with Ex4-XTEN alone relative to placebo, but not for animals treated with Gcg-XTEN alone. However, animals dosed with both Gcg-XTEN and exenatide concurrently showed a statistically significantly greater reduction in fasting blood glucose levels compared to either glucose regulating peptide administered alone. Of note, the doses of Gcg-XTEN composition that resulted in the beneficial effects in combination with Ex4-XTEN were 20 and 40 μg/kg (complete fusion protein composition weight); at least 25-fold lower than the no-effect dose reported for glucagon alone in a rodent species. In addition, mice receiving the GP had reductions in triglycerides and cholesterol levels, compared to placebo.

Conclusions:

The data support the conclusion that combination therapy with two fusion proteins of two glucose regulating peptides such as exendin-4 and glucagon, each linked to an XTEN, can result in a synergistic beneficial effect over that seen with a single glucose regulating peptide such that administration of a combination composition can be tailored to reduce frequency of dosing or dosage compared to administration of a single biologic in order to reduce the threat of toxicity or unacceptable side effects.

Example 27 PK Analysis of Ex4-XTEN GPXTEN in Cynomolgus Monkeys

The pharmacokinetics of Ex4-AE864 GPXTEN was determined in cynomolgus monkeys (three per group) with the GPXTEN administered by subcutaneous or intravenous injections of GPXTEN at 0.5 mg/kg over a 1 minute period. Plasma samples were collected at various time points up to 14 days after injection and analyzed by ELISA for determination of both test article serum concentration and immunogenicity. No anti-test article antibody response was observed for Ex4-AE864 in any animal after administration. Sandwich ELISA was carried out by >12 h immobilization of 100 ng capture antibody (rabbit anti-exenatide, Peninsula Laboratories, San Carlos, Calif.) to each well in a polystyrene microtiter plate (Costar 3690, Corning Inc, Corning, N.Y.), followed by blocking with 3% bovine serum albumin (BSA). After 3 washes with PBS, plasma samples were serially titrated across the plate in PBS containing 1% BSA and 0.5% Tween 20. After a 2 hour incubation and washing, the samples were probed by the addition of biotinylated IgG (rabbit anti-exenatide biotinylated in house, Peninsula Laboratories, San Carlos, Calif.) to each well. After incubation and washing, plates were developed by incubation with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated streptavidin (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Rockford, Ill.) followed by tetramethylbenzidine substrate (Neogen Corporation, Lexington, Ky.), then quenched with 0.2 N H₂SO₄ and read at 450 nm. Non-compartmental pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using the WinNonLin program, Version 2.1 (Pharsight Corporation, Mt. View, Calif.).

The results are depicted in FIG. 17. Terminal half-life of this formulation of the construct was 60 hours, with 80% bioavailability from a subcutaneous injection. This compares to the reported half-life of 2.4 h for Byetta®, a commercial version of exendin-4. Importantly, a slow absorption phase, which appears to be characteristic of XTEN fusion proteins, was noted after subcutaneous injection. The absorption phase resulted in a Cmax between 24-48 hours after injection and an essentially flat serum concentration profile for ˜100 hours before reaching a linear elimination phase.

Conclusions:

It can be concluded from the results that addition of an XTEN to a glucose-regulating peptide, such as exendin-4, can greatly increase the terminal half-life compared to the peptide not linked to XTEN, and enhance other pharmacokinetic parameters, as well.

Example 28 PK Analysis of Ex4-XTEN GPXTEN in Multiple Species and Predicted Human Half-Life

To determine the predicted pharmacokinetic profile in humans of a therapeutic protein fused to XTEN, studies were performed using exendin-4 fused to the AE864 XTEN as a single fusion polypeptide. The Ex4-XTEN construct was administered to four different animal species at 0.5-1.0 mg/kg, subcutaneously and intravenously. Serum samples were collected at intervals following administration, with serum concentrations determined using standard methods. The half-life for each species was determined, and is tabulated in Table 26. The results were used to predict the human half-life using allometric scaling of terminal half-life, volume of distribution, and clearance rates based on average body mass. FIG. 18A shows a plot of measured terminal half-life versus body mass in the animal species, with a predicted T_(1/2) in a 75 kg human of 140 h, compared to the reported half-life of exenatide of 2.4 h (Bond, A. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) 19(3): 281-284. (2006)). FIG. 18B shows measured drug clearance versus body mass, with a predicted clearance rate value of 30 ml/h in a 75 kg human. FIG. 18C shows measured volume of distribution versus body mass, with a predicted value of 5970 ml in a 75 kg human.

Conclusions:

It can be concluded from the results that addition of an XTEN to a glucose-regulating peptide, such as exendin-4, can greatly increase the terminal half-life compared to the peptide not linked to XTEN, and that a GPXTEN formulation with comparable half-life would permit considerably less frequent dosing than is currently employed with commercial products of glucose-regulating peptides, with dosing at weekly, every other week, or even monthly intervals possible.

TABLE 26 Half-life of Ex4-XTEN Species Half-Life (hr) Mouse 13.5 Rat 31.7 Monkey 60.7 Dog 72.8 Human  140* *Predicted value based on allometric scaling

Example 29 Pharmacokinetics of Gcg-XTEN in Dogs

Beagle dogs (four per group) were injected subcutaneously with designated doses of synthetic glucagon (American Peptide, Sunnyvale, Calif.), Gcg-XTEN, or placebo. Animals were fasted for 12 hours preceding dosing and 6 hours following dosing. Blood glucose was tested at designated times before and after dosing using a hand-held glucometer (Walgreens TRUEresult™). Raw data was corrected for systematic bias between human and canine blood by comparison to reference samples across the entire linear range (40-250 mg/dL) measured in parallel at a diagnostic laboratory (Antech Diagnostics).

Blood glucose profiles following injection are shown in FIG. 20. The data show that Gcg-XTEN elevates blood glucose for an extended period of time relative to unmodified glucagon. Blood glucose levels after Gcg-XTEN administration return to baseline levels 10-12 hours after administration, consistent with the PK profile as previously determined in cynomolgus monkeys (data not shown).

Conclusions:

The addition of XTEN to the glucose regulating peptide glucagon markedly enhances the pharmacokinetic properties, including terminal half-life, compared to the native protein. In addition, the design of the glucagon containing GPXTEN of a select length results in a half-life that allows a return to baseline levels at an interval that makes it useful for the control of nocturnal hypoglycemia.

Example 30 Gcg-XTEN Confers Temporally-Controlled Resistance to Insulin-Induced Hypoglycemia in Dogs

Beagle dogs (four per group, eight total) were subjected to a hypoglycemic challenge model in two phases, separated by a four-day washout period. In each phase, the animals were fed three hours prior to injection, then fasted for the remainder of the study. In each phase, groups were injected subcutaneously with 0.6 nmol/kg of Gcg-XTEN or placebo at time zero. In the first phase, hypoglycemic challenge was initiated 6 hours after test article injection by administration of 0.05 U/kg insulin (Novolin-R, Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, Inc.). Hypoglycemic challenge in phase 2 was initiated identically, with the exception of being 12 hours following test article injection. Blood glucose levels were tested at designated times using a hand-held glucometer as above. Blood samples were taken pre-dose and one hour following insulin challenge in all animals. Samples were tested by clinical chemistry to confirm accuracy of the hand-held glucometer readings. In addition, clinical chemistry confirmed significantly elevated insulin levels following hypoglycemic challenge in all groups. Although slightly lower (˜30%, data not shown) in Gcg-XTEN groups relative to placebo groups, the differences between groups were not statistically significant.

The results of the sequential glucose determinations are shown in FIG. 21. The data show that animals receiving Gcg-XTEN were resistant to insulin-induced hypoglycemia at 6 hours after dosing (FIG. 21A), but not at 12 hours after dosing (FIG. 21B). Based on a hypothetical human timeline, assuming Gcg-XTEN dosing at 21:00, 6 hr post dose corresponds to 03:00 (during sleep) where protection of hypoglycemia is desired, and 12 hr post dose corresponds to 09:00 where the pharmacodynamic effect should have expired to allow for a morning meal.

Conclusions:

The addition of XTEN to the glucose regulating peptide glucagon and the particular design of the GPXTEN fusion protein as to length of XTEN results in a pharmacodynamic effect that 1) protects against insulin-induced hypoglycemia; and 2) is of a length of time that coincides with nocturnal hypoglycemia and then subsides at a time that would be consistent with a morning meal. This pharmacodynamic profile is well-suited for clinical applications in hypoglycemia in diabetic patients.

Example 31 Gcg-XTEN288 Inhibits Increase in Blood Glucose after End of Fasting in Cynomolgus Monkeys

The effect of long-lived Gcg-XTEN_Y288 on appetite suppression was tested in normal cynomolgus monkeys. Animals were fasted for 12 hours prior to dosing and 6 hours following dosing. At time 0, animals received a randomized dose of either 7 nmol/kg of Gcg-XTEN_Y288 (Construct 1) or placebo. Blood glucose was measured by hand-held glucometer at designated times throughout the study. In a second phase, the same animals were treated with the alternate test article according to the same protocol. FIG. 22 shows overlaid plots of blood glucose profiles after placebo or Gcg-XTEN_Y288 administration for each individual animal. Solid arrows mark the time when food was returned to the animals (t=6 hours).

In each animal, when dosed with placebo, blood glucose is observed to spike upwards immediately after food is allowed following the 18 hr fasting period. This is consistent with the animals eating when food is allowed ad libitum. In comparison, when the same animals were dosed with Gcg-XTEN288 six hours prior to the return of food, no blood glucose spike is observed. This observation suggests that the appetite of these animals following the fasting period was suppressed by Gcg-XTEN288 administration.

Example 32 PK Analysis of Glucagon-XTEN Compositions in Cynomolgus Monkeys

GPXTEN compositions of glucagon linked to XTEN of varying length were evaluated to determine pharmacokinetic parameters in cynomolgus monkeys. Three different constructs with varying lengths of XTEN fused to glucagon were evaluated for the effects on PK parameters. The constructs glucagon-Y288, glucagonY-144 and glucagon-Y72 were administered to cynomolgus monkeys at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg subcutaneously. Serum samples were collected at various time points following administration and analyzed for serum concentrations of the construct using a sandwich ELISA format. Rabbit polyclonal anti-XTEN_Y antibodies were coated onto wells of an ELISA plate. Serum samples were then incubated in the wells at varying dilutions to allow capture of the compound by the coated antibodies. Wells were washed extensively, and bound protein was detected using a biotinylated preparation of the polyclonal anti-XTEN_Y antibody and streptavidin HRP. Serum protein concentrations were calculated at each time point by comparing the colorimetric response at each serum dilution to a standard curve. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using the WinNonLin software package. FIG. 28 shows the results of blood levels over time for the glucagon-XTEN fusion proteins 1) glucagon-Y288; 2) glucagonY-144; and 3) glucagon-Y72. The results from the glucagon-Y144 dosing shows <3-fold variation in blood levels over 0-6 hrs, with blood levels dropping below the 10× threshold from the Cmax at 10-12 hours, indicating a favorable PK profile for maintaining the GPXTEN within a therapeutic window for conditions such as nocturnal hypoglycemia.

Conclusions:

The results indicate that the glucagons with longer XTEN lengths were detectable in the blood for extended periods in comparison to constructs with shorter lengths.

Example 33 Increasing Solubility and Stability of GP by Linking to XTEN

In order to evaluate the ability of XTEN to enhance the physical/chemical properties of solubility and stability, fusion proteins of glucagon plus shorter-length XTEN were prepared and evaluated. The test articles were prepared in Tris-buffered saline at neutral pH and characterization of the Gcg-XTEN solution was by reverse-phase HPLC and size exclusion chromatography to affirm that the protein was homogeneous and non-aggregated in solution. The data are presented in Table 27. For comparative purposes, the solubility limit of unmodified glucagon in the same buffer was measured at 60 μM (0.2 mg/mL), and the result demonstrate that for all lengths of XTEN added, a substantial increase in solubility was attained. Importantly, in most cases the glucagon-XTEN fusion proteins were prepared to achieve target concentrations and were not evaluated to determine the maximum solubility limits for the given construct. However, in the case of glucagon linked to the AF-144 XTEN, the limit of solubility was determined, with the result that a 60-fold increase in solubility was achieved, compared to glucagon not linked to XTEN. In addition, the glucagon-AF144 GPXTEN was evaluated for stability, and was found to be stable in liquid formulation for at least 6 months under refrigerated conditions and for approximately one month at 37° C. (data not shown).

Conclusions:

The data support the conclusion that the linking of short-length XTEN polypeptides to a biologically active protein such as glucagon can markedly enhance the solubility properties of the protein by the resulting fusion protein, as well as confer stability at the higher protein concentrations.

TABLE 27 Solubility of Glucagon-XTEN constructs Test Article Solubility Glucagon 60 μM Glucagon-Y36 >370 μM Glucagon-Y72 >293 μM Glucagon-AF108 >145 μM Glucagon-AF120 >160 μM Glucagon-Y144 >497 μM Glucagon-AE144 >467 μM Glucagon-AF144 >3600 μM Glucagon-Y288 >163 μM

Example 34 Characterization of GPXTEN Secondary Structure

The GPXTEN Ex4-AE864 was evaluated for degree of secondary structure by circular dichroism spectroscopy. CD spectroscopy was performed on a Jasco J-715 (Jasco Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) spectropolarimeter equipped with Jasco Peltier temperature controller (TPC-348WI). The concentration of protein was adjusted to 0.2 mg/mL in 20 mM sodium phosphate pH 7.0, 50 mM NaCl. The experiments were carried out using HELLMA quartz cells with an optical path-length of 0.1 cm. The CD spectra were acquired at 5°, 25°, 45°, and 65° C. and processed using the J-700 version 1.08.01 (Build 1) Jasco software for Windows. The samples were equilibrated at each temperature for 5 min before performing CD measurements. All spectra were recorded in duplicate from 300 nm to 185 nm using a bandwidth of 1 nm and a time constant of 2 sec, at a scan speed of 100 nm/min. The CD spectrum shown in FIG. 27 shows no evidence of stable secondary structure and is consistent with an unstructured polypeptide.

Example 35 Biological Activity of Glucagon and Ex4 GPXTEN Constructs

Purified glucagon and exendin-3, each linked to Y288 as a GPXTEN fusion protein, were assayed for biological activity using an in vitro cell assay. Briefly, a ChemiScreen Stable Calcium Optimized glucagon receptor cell line was used for real-time calcium mobilization assays for glucagon and the glucagon-XTEN constructs, while an optimized exendin-4 receptor cell line expressing native GLP-1 receptor was used for exendin-4 and the Ex4 constructs. In this system, the cells express the native receptors and activation of this receptor results in calcium flux within the cell that can be detected using a FLIPR apparatus. As shown in FIG. 29, native glucagon results in an increase in signal in a dose-dependant manner. The EC50 for native glucagon in this system was found to be 4.1 nM. Titration of the glucagon-Y288 construct yielded a comparable response curve, with an EC50 of 72 nM. As shown in FIG. 29, native exendin-4 from two different commercial sources (Anaspec and Tocris) results in an increase in signal in a dose-dependant manner, with EC50s (indicated at dashed line) of 75 pM and 110 pM, respectively. Titration of the exendin-4-Y576 construct yielded a comparable response curve, with an EC50 of 98 pM, indicating that the fusion of the accessory protein retains full biological activity.

Conclusions:

The results indicate that the fusion of the glucose-regulating peptides exenidine-4 and glucagon to an XTEN results in compositions that retain biological activity.

Example 36 C-Terminal XTEN Releasable by Elastase-2

A GPXTEN fusion protein consisting of an XTEN protein fused to the C-terminus of a GP, such as exendin-4 (Ex4) can be created with a XTEN release site cleavage sequence placed in between the GP and XTEN components. Exemplary sequences are provided in Table 38. In this case, the release site contains an amino acid sequence that is recognized and cleaved by the elastase-2 protease (EC 3.4.21.37, Uniprot P08246). Specifically the sequence LGPV↓ISGVP (SEQ ID NO: 751) [Rawlings N. D., et al. (2008) Nucleic Acids Res., 36: D320], would be cut after position 4 in the sequence. Elastase is constitutively expressed by neutrophils and is present at all times in the circulation. Its activity is tightly controlled by serpins and is therefore minimally active most of the time. Therefore as the long-lived Ex4-XTEN circulates, a fraction of it would be cleaved, creating a pool of shorter-lived exendin-4 to be used in glucose homeostasis. In a desirable feature of the inventive composition, this creates a circulating pro-drug depot that constantly releases an amount of free, fully active exendin-4.

Example 37 C-Terminal XTEN Releasable by MMP-12

An amylin-XTEN fusion protein consisting of an XTEN protein fused to the C-terminus of amylin can be created with a XTEN release site cleavage sequence placed in between the amylin and XTEN components. Exemplary sequences are provided in Table 38. In this case, the GPXTEN release site contains an amino acid sequence that is recognized and cleaved by the MMP-12 protease (EC 3.4.24.65, Uniprot P39900). Specifically the sequence GPAGILGGA (SEQ ID NO: 752) [Rawlings N. D., et al. (2008) Nucleic Acids Res., 36: D320] would be cut after position 4 of the sequence. MMP-12 is constitutively expressed in whole blood. Therefore as the long-lived amylin-XTEN circulates, a fraction of it would be cleaved, creating a pool of shorter-lived amylin to be used in glucose homeostasis. In a desirable feature of the inventive composition, this creates a circulating pro-drug depot that constantly releases an amount of free, fully active amylin.

Example 38 Human Clinical Trial Designs for Evaluating GPXTEN

Clinical trials can be designed such that the efficacy and advantages of the GPXTEN compositions, relative to single biologics, can be verified in humans. For example, the GPXTEN fusion constructs comprising both glucagon and exenatide, as described in the Examples above, are used in clinical trials for characterizing the efficacy of the compositions. The trials are conducted in one or more metabolic diseases, disorders, or conditions that is improved, ameliorated, or inhibited by the administration of glucagon and exenatide. Such studies in adult patients comprise three phases. First, a Phase I safety and pharmacokinetics study in adult patients is conducted to determine the maximum tolerated dose and pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in humans (either normal subjects or patients with a metabolic disease or condition), as well as to define potential toxicities and adverse events to be tracked in future studies. The study is conducted in which single rising doses of compositions of fusion proteins of XTEN linked to glucagon and exenatide is administered and biochemical, PK, and clinical parameters are measured. This permits the determination of the maximum tolerated dose and establishes the threshold and maximum concentrations in dosage and circulating drug that constitute the therapeutic window for the respective components. Thereafter, clinical trials would be conducted in patients with the disease, disorder or condition.

Clinical Trial in Diabetes

A phase II dosing study is conducted in diabetic patients where serum glucose pharmacodynamics and other physiologic, PK, safety and clinical parameters (such as listed below) appropriate for diabetes, insulin resistance and obesity conditions are measured as a function of the dosing of the fusion proteins comprising XTEN linked to glucagon and exenatide, yielding dose-ranging information on doses appropriate for a Phase III trial, in addition to collecting safety data related to adverse events. The PK parameters are correlated to the physiologic, clinical and safety parameter data to establish the therapeutic window for each component of the GPXTEN composition, permitting the clinician to establish either the appropriate ratio of the two component fusion proteins each comprising one glucose regulating peptide, or to determine the single dose for a monomeric GPXTEN comprising two glucose regulating peptides. Finally, a phase III efficacy study is conducted wherein diabetic patients would be administered either the GPXTEN composition, a positive control, or a placebo daily, bi-weekly, or weekly (or other dosing schedule deemed appropriate given the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the GPXTEN composition) for an extended period of time. Primary outcome measures of efficacy could include HbA1c concentrations, while secondary outcome measures include insulin requirement during the study, stimulated C peptide and insulin concentrations, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum cytokine levels, CRP levels, and insulin secretion and Insulin-sensitivity index derived from an OGTT with insulin and glucose measurements, as well as body weight, food consumption, and other accepted diabetic markers that are tracked relative to the placebo or positive control group. Efficacy outcomes are determined using standard statistical methods. Toxicity and adverse event markers also are followed in this study to verify that the compound is safe when used in the manner described.

Example 39 Analysis of Sequences for Secondary Structure by Prediction Algorithms

Amino acid sequences is assessed for secondary structure via certain computer programs or algorithms, such as the well-known Chou-Fasman algorithm (Chou, P. Y., et al. (1974) Biochemistry, 13: 222-45) and the Garnier-Osguthorpe-Robson, or “GOR” method (Gamier J, Gibrat J F, Robson B. (1996). GOR method for predicting protein secondary structure from amino acid sequence. Methods Enzymol 266:540-553). For a given sequence, the algorithms can predict whether there exists some or no secondary structure at all, expressed as total and/or percentage of residues of the sequence that form, for example, alpha-helices or beta-sheets or the percentage of residues of the sequence predicted to result in random coil formation.

Several representative sequences from XTEN “families” have been assessed using two algorithm tools for the Chou-Fasman and GOR methods to assess the degree of secondary structure in these sequences. The Chou-Fasman tool was provided by William R. Pearson and the University of Virginia, at the “Biosupport” internet site, URL located on the World Wide Web at fasta.bioch.virginia.edu/fasta_www2/fasta_www.cgi?rm=misc1 as it existed on Jun. 19, 2009. The GOR tool was provided by Pole Informatique Lyonnais at the Network Protein Sequence Analysis internet site, URL located on the World Wide Web at .npsa-pbil.ibcp.fr/cgi-bin/secpred_gor4.pl as it existed on Jun. 19, 2008.

As a first step in the analyses, a single XTEN sequence was analyzed by the two algorithms. The AE864 composition is a XTEN with 864 amino acid residues created from multiple copies of four 12 amino acid sequence motifs consisting of the amino acids G, S, T, E, P, and A. The sequence motifs are characterized by the fact that there is limited repetitiveness within the motifs and within the overall sequence in that the sequence of any two consecutive amino acids is not repeated more than twice in any one 12 amino acid motif, and that no three contiguous amino acids of full-length the XTEN are identical. Successively longer portions of the AF 864 sequence from the N-terminus were analyzed by the Chou-Fasman and GOR algorithms (the latter requires a minimum length of 17 amino acids). The sequences were analyzed by entering the FASTA format sequences into the prediction tools and running the analysis. The results from the analyses are presented in Table 28.

The results indicate that, by the Chou-Fasman calculations, the four motifs of the AE family (Table 4) have no alpha-helices or beta sheets. The sequence up to 288 residues was similarly found to have no alpha-helices or beta sheets. The 432 residue sequence is predicted to have a small amount of secondary structure, with only 2 amino acids contributing to an alpha-helix for an overall percentage of 0.5%. The full-length AF864 polypeptide has the same two amino acids contributing to an alpha-helix, for an overall percentage of 0.2%. Calculations for random coil formation revealed that with increasing length, the percentage of random coil formation increased. The first 24 amino acids of the sequence had 91% random coil formation, which increased with increasing length up to the 99.77% value for the full-length sequence.

Numerous XTEN sequences of 500 amino acids or longer from the other motif families were also analyzed and revealed that the majority had greater than 95% random coil formation. The exceptions were those sequences with one or more instances of three contiguous serine residues, which resulted in predicted beta-sheet formation. However, even these sequences still had approximately 99% random coil formation.

In contrast, a polypeptide sequence of 84 residues limited to A, S, and P amino acids was assessed by the Chou-Fasman algorithm, which predicted a high degree of predicted alpha-helices. The sequence, which had multiple repeat “AA” and “AAA” sequences, had an overall predicted percentage of alpha-helix structure of 69%. The GOR algorithm predicted 78.57% random coil formation; far less than any sequence consisting of 12 amino acid sequence motifs consisting of the amino acids G, S, T, E, P, analyzed in the present Example.

Conclusions:

The analysis supports the conclusion that: 1) XTEN created from multiple sequence motifs of G, S, T, E, P, and A that have limited repetitiveness as to contiguous amino acids are predicted to have very low amounts of alpha-helices and beta-sheets; 2) that increasing the length of the XTEN does not appreciably increase the probability of alpha-helix or beta-sheet formation; and 3) that progressively increasing the length of the XTEN sequence by addition of non-repetitive 12-mers consisting of the amino acids G, S, T, E, P, and A results in increased percentage of random coil formation. In contrast, polypeptides created from amino acids limited to A, S and P that have a higher degree of internal repetitiveness are predicted to have a high percentage of alpha-helices, as determined by the Chou-Fasman algorithm, as well as random coil formation. Based on the numerous sequences evaluated by these methods, it is concluded that XTEN created from sequence motifs of G, S, T, E, P, and A that have limited repetitiveness (defined as no more than two identical contiguous amino acids in any one motif) greater than about 400 amino acid residues in length are expected to have very limited secondary structure. With the exception of motifs containing three contiguous serines, it is believed that any order or combination of sequence motifs from Table 4 can be used to create an XTEN polypeptide of a length greater than about 400 residues that will result in an XTEN sequence that is substantially devoid of secondary structure. Such sequences are expected to have the characteristics described in the GPXTEN embodiments of the invention disclosed herein.

TABLE 28 CHOU-FASMAN and GOR prediction calculations of secondary structure SEQ SEQ No. Chou-Fasman  GOR NAME Sequence ID NO: Residues Calculation Calculation GSTSESPSGTAP 753 12 Residue totals*: Not H: 0 E: 0 Determined percent: H: 0.0 E: 0.0 GTSTPESGSASP 754 12 Residue totals: Not H: 0 E: 0 Determined percent: H: 0.0 E: 0.0 GTSPSGESSTAP 755 12 Residue totals: Not H: 0 E: 0 Determined percent: H: 0.0 E: 0.0 GSTSSTAESPGP 756 12 Residue totals: Not H: 0 E: 0 Determined percent: H: 0.0 E: 0.0 GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGP 757 24 Residue totals: 91.67% H: 0 E: 0 percent: H: 0.0 E: 0.0 GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPS 758 36 Residue totals: 94.44% EGSAP H: 0 E: 0 percent: H: 0.0 E: 0.0 GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPS 759 48 Residue totals: 93.75% EGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEE H: 0 E: 0 percent: H: 0.0 E: 0.0 SPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSE 760 60 Residue totals: 96.67% GSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAP H: 0 E: 0 percent: H: 0.0 E: 0.0 GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPS 761 108 Residue totals: 97.22% EGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGT H: 0 E: 0 STEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGS percent: H: 0.0 ETPGSEPATSGSETP E: 0.0 GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPS 762 216 Residue totals: 99.07% EGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGT H: 0 E: 0 STEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGS percent: H: 0.0 ETPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSE E: 0.0 SATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSA PGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEP SEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAP GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPS 763 432 Residue totals: 99.54% EGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGT H: 2 E: 3 STEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGS percent: H: 0.5 ETPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSE E: 0.7 SATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSA PGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEP SEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPG TSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSTEPSE GSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTS ESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPES GPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGTSTE PSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAP GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPS EGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAP AE864 GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPS 764 864 Residue totals: 99.77% EGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGT H: 2 E: 3 STEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGS percent: H: 0.2 ETPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSE E: 0.3 SATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSA PGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEP SEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPG TSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSTEPSE GSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTS ESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPES GPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGTSTE PSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAP GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPS EGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGT SESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPE SGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGTST EPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTE EGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESA TPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPG SEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSG SETPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSP AGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSE TPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAG SPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGP GTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATS GSETPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGT STEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGS ETPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAP AD GSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGSSESGS 765 576 Residue totals: 99.65% 576 SEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGS H: 7 E: 0 SESGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGESPGGSSG percent: H: 1.2 SESGSEGSSGPGESSGSSESGSSEGGPGSSE E: 0.0 SGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGS SGESPGGSSGSESGESPGGSSGSESGSGGEP SESGSSGSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSG SGGEPSESGSSGSEGSSGPGESSGESPGGSS GSESGSGGEPSESGSSGSGGEPSESGSSGSG GEPSESGSSGSSESGSSEGGPGESPGGSSGS ESGESPGGSSGSESGESPGGSSGSESGESPG GSSGSESGESPGGSSGSESGSSESGSSEGGP GSGGEPSESGSSGSEGSSGPGESSGSSESGS SEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGSSESGSSEGGPGS GGEPSESGSSGESPGGSSGSESGESPGGSSG SESGSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGSSE SGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGSGGEPSESGS SGESPGGSSGSESGSEGSSGPGESSGSSESG SSEGGPGSEGSSGPGESS AE576 GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPS 766 576 Residue totals: 99.65% EGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGT H: 2 E: 0 STEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGS percent: H: 0.4 ETPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSE E: 0.0 SATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSA PGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEP SEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPG TSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSTEPSE GSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTS ESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPES GPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGTSTE PSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAP GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPS EGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGT SESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPE SGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGTST EPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTE EGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTE7EGTSES ATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAP AF540 GSTSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSESP 767 540 Residue totals:  99.65 SGTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGT H: 2 E: 0 STPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESS percent: H: 0.4 TAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSP E: 0.0 SGESSTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTA PGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSES PSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPG STSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSSTAE SPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPESGSASPGTS TPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSA SPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSE SPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSSTAESPGP GTSTPESGSASPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESP SGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGS TSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGS ASPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSP SGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPESGSAS PGSTSESPSGTAP AF504 GASPGTSSTGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGSSPSAS 768 504 Residue totals: 94.44% TGTGPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGS H: 0 E: 0 NPSASTGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTAS percent: H: 0.0 SSPGSSTPSGATGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGASP E: 0.0 GTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSS PGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSG TASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSNPSASTGTGPG SSPSASTGTGPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGA TGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGAS PGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGASPGTSSTG SPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGSSPS ASTGTGPGTPGSGTASSSPGASPGTSSTGSP GASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGSSTPSG ATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGT PGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGAT GSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGASP GTSSTGSP AE864 GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPS 769 864 Residue totals: 99.77% EGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGT H: 2 E: 3 STEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGS percent: H: 0.2 ETPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSE E: 0.4 SATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSA PGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEP SEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPG TSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSTEPSE GSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTS ESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPES GPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGTSTE PSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAP GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPS EGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGT SESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPE SGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGTST EPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTE EGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESA TPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPG SEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSG SETPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSP AGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSE TPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAG SPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGP GTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATS GSETPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGT STEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGS ETPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAP AF864 GSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESP 770 875 Residue totals: 95.20% SGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGT H: 2 E: 0 STPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSG percent: H: 0.2 TAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSP E: 0.0 SGESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPG PGTSPSGESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSST AESPGPGTSTPESGSASPGTSTPESGSASPG STSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESG SASPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPESGSASPGST SESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESP GPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSS TAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGP GSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESP SGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGPXXXGA SASGAPSTXXXXSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGT APGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSE SPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASP GTSPSGESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTA ESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSTPESGSASPGS TSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESS TAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGTST PESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSAS PGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSES PSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPG TSPSGESSTAPGTSTPESGSASPGTSPSGES STAPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGST SSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESST APGSSPSASTGTGPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTP SGATGSP AG864 GGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGSS 771 868 Residue totals: 94.70% PSASTGTGPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATG H: 0 E: 0 SPGSNPSASTGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGS percent: H: 0.0 GTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGTPGSGTASSSP E: 0.0 GASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGT ASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGT PGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSNPSASTG TGPGSSPSASTGT7GPGSSTPSGATGSPGSS TPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTG SPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGASPG TSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSP GSSPSASTGTGPGTPGSGTASSSPGASPGTS STGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGS STPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSST GSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSST PSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSASTGTG PGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSG TASSSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPG ASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTA SSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSS TPSGATGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATG SPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGSSPS ASTGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSP GSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGSSPSAS TGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGS STPSGATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGASPGTSST GSPGSSPSASTGTGPGTPGSGTASSSPGSST PSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGS P AM875 GTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSP 772 875 Residue totals: 98.63% TSTEEGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPESGSASPGS H: 7 E: 3 TSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGS percent: H: 0.8 ASPGTSTPESGSASPGSEPATSGSETPGTSE E: 0.3 SATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSA PGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEP SEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPG TSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSESATP ESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTS ESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSE TPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSSTPSGATGSPGTPGS GTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGTSTEPSEGSAP GTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSP TSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGA SASGAPSTGGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTST EEGSPAGSPTSTEEGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSE SPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGTPGSGTASSSP GSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGSEPATS GSETPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGS TSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESS TAPGSEPATSGSETPGSEPATSGSETPGTST EPSEGSAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPESGSAS PGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEP SEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSSTPSGATGSPG SSPSASTGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGSEPATSG SETPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSS TPSGATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGASPGTSSTG SPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTE PSEGSAP AM1318 GTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSP 773 1318 Residue totals: 99.17% TSTEEGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPESGSASPGS H: 7 E: 0 TSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGS percent: H 0.7 ASPGTSTPESGSASPGSEPATSGSETPGTSE E: 0.0 SATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSA PGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEP SEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPG TSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSESATP ESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTS ESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSE TPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSSTPSGATGSPGTPGS GTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGTSTEPSEGSAP GTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSP TSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGP EPTGPAPSGGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPES GPGSRAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGSPAG SPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGP GSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGSTSSTA ESPGPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGS TSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESS TAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSE SATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESG PGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESA TPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSPSGESSTAPG TSPSGESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSTEPSE GSAPGSRAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGSS PSASTGTGPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATG SPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPG TSSTGSPGASASGAPSTGGTSPSGESSTAPG STSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSESATP ESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSS PSASTGTGPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTG SPGTSTPESGSASPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSPS GESSTAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETP GTSTEPSEGSAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESP SGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSPAGSPTSTEEGT SESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTS TEEGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGSST PSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGSSTPSGATGS PGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSST AESPGPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPG TPGSGTASSSPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPT STEEGTSTEPSEGSAP AM923 MAEPAGSPTSTEEGASPGTSSTGSPGSSTPS 774 924 Residue totals: 98.70% GATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGTSTEPSEGSAPG H: 4 E: 3 SEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSTSSTAE percent: H: 0.4 SPGPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGST E: 0.3 SESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGTSTPESGSA SPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSPAG SPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGP GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSP TSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGT SESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEG SAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTST EPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTE EGSSTPSGATGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPS GATGSPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPG SEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPT STEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGASASGAPSTGGTSE SATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTE EGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSG ESSTAPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPG SSPSASTGTGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATP ESGPGSEPATSGSETPGSTSSTAESPGPGST SSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGSEPATSGSE TPGSEPATSGSETPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSTSS TAESPGPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAP GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPS EGSAPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGA SPGTSSTGSPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPE SGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSSTPSGATGSPGSSP SASTGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGTSESATPESG PGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAP AE912 MAEPAGSPTSTEEGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPS 775 913 Residue totals: 99.45% GATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGSPAGSPISTEEG H: 8 E: 3 TSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPT percent: H: 0.9 STEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTS E: 0.3 ESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGSEPATSGSE TPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTE PSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAbSPTSTEE GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESAT PESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGS EPATSGSETPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEG SAPGTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGSPA GSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSET PGTSESATPESGPGISTEPSEGSAPGTSTEP SEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPG TSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPT STEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSE PATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSE TPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSES ATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEE GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPS EGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGT SESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPE SGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSE SATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESG PGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEP SEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPG TSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGSEPATSG SETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTS TEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPES GPGTSTEPSEGSAP BC GTSTEPSEPGSAGTSTEPSEPGSAGSEPATS 776 Residue totals: 99.77% 864 GTEPSGSGASEPTSTEPGSEPATSGTEPSGS H: 0 E: 0 EPATSGTEPSGSEPATSGTEPSGSGASEPTS percent: H: 0 TEPGTSTEPSEPGSAGSEPATSGTEPSGTST E: 0 EPSEPGSAGSEPATSGTEPSGSEPATSGTEP SGTSTEPSEPGSAGTSTEPSEPGSAGSEPAT SGTEPSGSEPATSGTEPSGTSEPSTSEPGAG SGASEPTSTEPGTSEPSTSEPGAGSEPATSG TEPSGSEPATSGTEPSGTSTEPSEPGSAGTS TEPSEPGSAGSGASEPTSTEPGSEPATSGTE PSGSEPATSGTEPSGSEPATSGTEPSGSEPA TSGTEPSGTSTEPSEPGSAGSEPATSGTEPS GSGASEPTSTEPGTSTEPSEPGSAGSEPATS GTEPSGSGASEPTSTEPGTSTEPSEPGSAGS GASEPTSTEPGSEPATSGTEPSGSGASEPTS TEPGSEPATSGTEPSGSGASEPTSTEPGTST EPSEPGSAGSEPATSGTEPSGSGASEPTSTE PGTSTEPSEPGSAGSEPATSGTEPSGTSTEP SEPGSAGSEPATSGTEPSGTSTEPSEPGSAG TSTEPSEPGSAGTSTEPSEPGSAGTSTEPSE PGSAGTSTEPSEPGSAGTSTEPSEPGSAGTS EPSTSEPGAGSGASEPTSTEPGTSTEPSEPG SAGTSTEPSEPGSAGTSTEPSEPGSAGSEPA TSGTEPSGSGASEPTSTEPGSEPATSGTEPS GSEPATSGTEPSGSEPATSGTEPSGSEPATS GTEPSGTSEPSTSEPGAGSEPATSGTEPSGS GASEPTSTEPGTSTEPSEPGSAGSEPATSGT EPSGSGASEPTSTEPGTSTEPSEPGSA ASPAAPAPASPAAPAPSAPAAAPASPAPAAP 777 84 Residue totals: 78.57% SAPAPAAPSAASPAAPSAPPAAASPAAPSAP H: 58 E: 0 PAASAAAPAXASAAASAPSAAA percent: H: 69.0 E: 0.0 *H: alpha-helix E: beta-sheet

Example 40 Analysis of Polypeptide Sequences for Repetitiveness

Polypeptide amino acid sequences can be assessed for repetitiveness by quantifying the number of times a shorter subsequence appears within the overall polypeptide. For example, a polypeptide of 200 amino acid residues has 192 overlapping 9-amino acid subsequences (or 9-mer “frames”), but the number of unique 9-mer subsequences will depend on the amount of repetitiveness within the sequence. In the present analysis, different sequences were assessed for repetitiveness by summing the occurrence of all unique 3-mer subsequences for each 3-amino acid frame across the first 200 amino acids of the polymer portion divided by the absolute number of unique 3-mer subsequences within the 200 amino acid sequence. The resulting subsequence score is a reflection of the degree of repetitiveness within the polypeptide.

The results, shown in Table 29, indicate that the unstructured polypeptides consisting of 2 or 3 amino acid types have high subsequence scores, while those of consisting of 12 amino acids motifs of the six amino acids G, S, T, E, P, and A with a low degree of internal repetitiveness, have subsequence scores of less than 10, and in some cases, less than 5. For example, the L288 sequence has two amino acid types and has short, highly repetitive sequences, resulting in a subsequence score of 50.0. The polypeptide J288 has three amino acid types but also has short, repetitive sequences, resulting in a subsequence score of 33.3. Y576 also has three amino acid types, but is not made of internal repeats, reflected in the subsequence score of 15.7 over the first 200 amino acids. W576 consists of four types of amino acids, but has a higher degree of internal repetitiveness, e.g., “GGSG” (SEQ ID NO: 778), resulting in a subsequence score of 23.4. The AD576 consists of four types of 12 amino acid motifs, each consisting of four types of amino acids. Because of the low degree of internal repetitiveness of the individual motifs, the overall subsequence score over the first 200 amino acids is 13.6. In contrast, XTEN's consisting of four motifs contains six types of amino acids, each with a low degree of internal repetitiveness have lower subsequence scores; i.e., AE864 (6.1), AF864 (7.5), and AM875 (4.5).

Conclusions:

The results indicate that the combination of 12 amino acid subsequence motifs, each consisting of four to six amino acid types that are essentially non-repetitive, into a longer XTEN polypeptide results in an overall sequence that is non-repetitive. This is despite the fact that each subsequence motif may be used multiple times across the sequence. In contrast, polymers created from smaller numbers of amino acid types resulted in higher subsequence scores, although the actual sequence can be tailored to reduce the degree of repetitiveness to result in lower subsequence scores.

TABLE 29 Subsequence score calculations of polypeptide sequences SEQ Seq Name Amino Acid Sequence ID NO: Score J288 GSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEG 779 33.3 GSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEG GSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEG GSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEG GSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEG GSGGEGGSGGEGGSGGEG K288 GEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEG 780 46.9 GEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEG GEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEG GEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEG GEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEG GEGEGGGEGGEGEGGGEG L288 SSESSESSSSESSSESSESSSSESSSESSESSSSESSSESSESSSSESSSESSE 781 50.0 SSSSESSSESSESSSSESSSESSESSSSESSSESSESSSSESSSESSESSSSES SSESSESSSSESSSESSESSSSESSSESSESSSSESSSESSESSSSESSSESSE SSSSESSSESSESSSSESSSESSESSSSESSSESSESSSSESSSESSESSSSES SSESSESSSSESSSESSESSSSESSSESSESSSSESSSESSESSSSESSSESSE SSSSESSSESSESSSSES Y288 GEGSGEGSEGEGSEGSGEGEGSEGSGEGEGGSEGSEGEGGSEGSEGEGGSEGSE 782 26.8 GEGSGEGSEGEGGSEGSEGEGSGEGSEGEGSEGGSEGEGGSEGSEGEGSGEGSE GEGGEGGSEGEGSEGSGEGEGSGEGSEGEGSEGSGEGEGSGEGSEGEGSEGSGE GEGSEGSGEGEGGSEGSEGEGSEGSGEGEGGEGSGEGEGSGEGSEGEGGGEGSE GEGSGEGGEGEGSEGGSEGEGGSEGGEGEGSEGSGEGEGSEGGSEGEGSEGGSE GEGSEGSGEGEGSEGSGE Q576 GGKPGEGGKPEGGGGKPGGKPEGEGEGKPGGKPEGGGKPGGGEGGKPEGGKPEG 783 18.5 EGKPGGGEGKPGGKPEGGGGKPEGEGKPGGGGGKPGGKPEGEGKPGGGEGGKPE GKPGEGGEGKPGGKPEGGGEGKPGGGKPGEGGKPGEGKPGGGEGGKPEGGKPEG EGKPGGGEGKPGGKPGEGGKPEGGGEGKPGGKPGEGGEGKPGGGKPEGEGKPGG GKPGGGEGGKPEGEGKPGGKPEGGGEGKPGGKPEGGGKPEGGGEGKPGGGKPGE GGKPGEGEGKPGGKPEGEGKPGGEGGGKPEGKPGGGEGGKPEGGKPGEGGKPEG GKPGEGGEGKPGGGKPGEGGKPEGGGKPEGEGKPGGGGKPGEGGKPEGGKPEGG GEGKPGGGKPEGEGKPGGGEGKPGGKPEGGGGKPGEGGKPEGGKPGGEGGGKPE GEGKPGGKPGEGGGGKPGGKPEGEGKPGEGGEGKPGGKPEGGGEGKPGGKPEGG GEGKPGGGKPGEGGKPEGGGKPGEGGKPGEGGKPEGEGKPGGGEGKPGGKPGEG GKPEGGGEGKPGGKPGGEGGGKPEGGKPGEGGKPEG U576 GEGKPGGKPGSGGGKPGEGGKPGSGEGKPGGKPGSGGSGKPGGKPGEGGKPEGG 784 18.1 SGGKPGGGGKPGGKPGGEGSGKPGGKPEGGGKPEGGSGGKPGGKPEGGSGGKPG GKPGSGEGGKPGGGKPGGEGKPGSGKPGGEGSGKPGGKPEGGSGGKPGGKPEGG SGGKPGGSGKPGGKPGEGGKPEGGSGGKPGGSGKPGGKPEGGGSGKPGGKPGEG GKPGSGEGGKPGGGKPGGEGKPGSGKPGGEGSGKPGGKPGSGGEGKPGGKPEGG SGGKPGGGKPGGEGKPGSGGKPGEGGKPGSGGGKPGGKPGGEGEGKPGGKPGEG GKPGGEGSGKPGGGGKPGGKPGGEGGKPEGSGKPGGGSGKPGGKPEGGGGKPEG SGKPGGGGKPEGSGKPGGGKPEGGSGGKPGGSGKPGGKPGEGGGKPEGSGKPGG GSGKPGGKPEGGGKPEGGSGGKPGGKPEGGSGGKPGGKPGGEGSGKPGGKPGSG EGGKPGGKPGEGSGGKPGGKPEGGSGGKPGGSGKPGGKPEGGGSGKPGGKPGEG GKPGGEGSGKPGGSGKPG W576 GGSGKPGKPGGSGSGKPGSGKPGGGSGKPGSGKPGGGSGKPGSGKPGGGSGKPG 785 23.4 SGKPGGGGKPGSGSGKPGGGKPGGSGGKPGGGSGKPGKPGSGGSGKPGSGKPGG GSGGKPGKPGSGGSGGKPGKPGSGGGSGKPGKPGSGGSGGKPGKPGSGGSGGKP GKPGSGGSGKPGSGKPGGGSGKPGSGKPGSGGSGKPGKPGSGGSGKPGSGKPGS GSGKPGSGKPGGGSGKPGSGKPGSGGSGKPGKPGSGGGKPGSGSGKPGGGKPGS GSGKPGGGKPGGSGGKPGGSGGKPGKPGSGGGSGKPGKPGSGGGSGKPGKPGGS GSGKPGSGKPGGGSGKPGSGKPGSGGSGKPGKPGSGGSGGKPGKPGSGGGKPGS GSGKPGGGKPGSGSGKPGGGKPGSGSGKPGGGKPGSGSGKPGGSGKPGSGKPGG GSGGKPGKPGSGGSGKPGSGKPGSGGSGKPGKPGGSGSGKPGSGKPGGGSGKPG SGKPGGGSGKPGSGKPGGGSGKPGSGKPGGGGKPGSGSGKPGGSGGKPGKPGSG GSGGKPGKPGSGGSGKPGSGKPGGGSGGKPGKPGSGG Y576 GEGSGEGSEGEGSEGSGEGEGSEGSGEGEGGSEGSEGEGSEGSGEGEGGEGSGE 786 15.7 GEGSGEGSEGEGGGEGSEGEGSGEGGEGEGSEGGSEGEGGSEGGEGEGSEGSGE GEGSEGGSEGEGSEGGSEGEGSEGSGEGEGSEGSGEGEGSEGSGEGEGSEGSGE GEGSEGGSEGEGGSEGSEGEGSGEGSEGEGGSEGSEGEGGGEGSEGEGSGEGSE GEGGSEGSEGEGGSEGSEGEGGEGSGEGEGSEGSGEGEGSGEGSEGEGSEGSGE GEGSEGSGEGEGGSEGSEGEGSGEGSEGEGSEGSGEGEGSEGSGEGEGGSEGSE GEGGSEGSEGEGGSEGSEGEGGEGSGEGEGSEGSGEGEGSGEGSEGEGSEGSGE GEGSEGSGEGEGGSEGSEGEGSEGSGEGEGGEGSGEGEGSGEGSEGEGGGEGSE GEGSEGSGEGEGSEGSGEGEGSEGGSEGEGGSEGSEGEGSEGGSEGEGSEGGSE GEGSEGSGEGEGSEGSGEGEGSGEGSEGEGGSEGGEGEGSEGGSEGEGSEGGSE GEGGEGSGEGEGGGEGSEGEGSEGSGEGEGSGEGSE AD576 GSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGSSESGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGSSESG 787 13.6 SSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGESPGGSSGSESGSEGSSGPGESS GSSESGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGESPGG SSGSESGESPGGSSGSESGSGGEPSESGSSGSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSS GSGGEPSESGSSGSEGSSGPGESSGESPGGSSGSESGSGGEPSESGSSGSGGEP SESGSSGSGGEPSESGSSGSSESGSSEGGPGESPGGSSGSESGESPGGSSGSES GESPGGSSGSESGESPGGSSGSESGESPGGSSGSESGSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEP SESGSSGSEGSSGPGESSGSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGSSESGSSEGGP GSGGEPSESGSSGESPGGSSGSESGESPGGSSGSESGSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEP SESGSSGSSESGSSEGGPGSGGEPSESGSSGSGGEPSESGSSGESPGGSSGSES GSEGSSGPGESSGSSESGSSEGGPGSEGSSGPGESS AE576 AGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTE 788 6.1 PSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGSEPATSGSET PGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAG SPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSA PGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSES ATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSET PGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTE PSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSA PGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSES ATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTE EGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAP AF540 GSTSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSST 789 8.8 AESPGPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESPSGTAP GSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSG ESSTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASP GSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPE SGSASPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGTSTPESGSASP GSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPE SGSASPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASP GSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSST AESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAP AF504 GASPGTSSTGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGSSPSASTGTGPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPS 790 7.0 GATGSPGSNPSASTGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSP GTPGSGTASSSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPS GATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSNPSASTGTGP GSSPSASTGTGPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGT SSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSP GASPGTSSTGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGTPGSGTASSSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGT SSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSP GTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSA STGTGPGASPGTSSTGSP AE864 GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEP 791 6.1 SEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGSEPATSGSETP GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGS PTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAP GTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESA TPESGPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETP GTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEP SEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAP GTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESA TPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEE GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPAT SGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAP GSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGS PTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGP GTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEP SEGSAP AF864 GSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPE 792 7.5 SGSASPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAP GSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSG ESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPESGSASPGTSTPESGSASP GSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPE SGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAP GTSTPESGSASPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSST AESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGPXXX GASASGAPSTXXXXSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESP SGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGTSPSGESSTAPG TSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESP SGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPG TSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSESP SGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPG TSTPESGSASPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTA ESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGSSPSASTGTGPGSSTPSGATGSPG SSTPSGATGSP AG868 GGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGSSPSASTGTGPGTPGSGTASSSPGS 793 7.5 STPSGATGSPGSNPSASTGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGA TGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGS STPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSNPSAST GTGPGSSPSASTGTGPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGA SPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSS TGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGTPGSGTASSSPGASPGTSSTGSPGA SPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSS TGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGS SPSASTGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGASPGTSS TGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGS STPSGATGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGA TGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGSSPSASTGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGT PGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGSSPSASTGTGPGASPGTSS TGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGS SPSASTGTGPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSS TGSP AM875 GTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPE 794 4.5 SGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGTSTPESGSASP GSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESA TPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAP GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEP SEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEE GSSTPSGATGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEP SEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAP GASASGAPSTGGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGSTSSTA ESPGPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPG SSPSASTGTGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGSTSSTA ESPGPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGESSTAPGSEPATSGSETPGSEPATSGSETPG TSTEPSEGSAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPESGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTEPS EGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPG ASPGTSSTGSPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSSTPSG ATGSPGSSPSASTGTGPGASPGTSSTGSPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPG TSTEPSEGSAP AM1318 GTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSTSSTAESPGPGTSTPE 795 4.5 SGSASPGSTSESPSGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGTSTPESGSASP GSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESA TPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAP GTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEP SEGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEE GSSTPSGATGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSSTPSGATGSPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEP SEGSAPGSEPATSGSETPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAP GPEPTGPAPSGGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESAT PESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGSPAGSPTSTEEG SPAGSPTSTEEGSTSSTAESPGPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSESP SGTAPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSESATPESGPG TSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSESATPESGPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPS EGSAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSPSGESSTAPG TSPSGESSTAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAPGSSPSAS TGTGPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSSTPSGATGSPG ASPGTSSTGSPGASASGAPSTGGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAESPGPGTSPSGES STAPGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSEGSAPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSSPSASTGTGPGS STPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTSTPESGSASPGTSPSGESSTAPGTSPSGES STAPGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGTSTEPSEGSAPGSTSESPSGTAPGS TSESPSGTAPGTSTPESGSASPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGTSTEPSE GSAPGSPAGSPTSTEEGTSESATPESGPGSEPATSGSETPGSSTPSGATGSPGA SPGTSSTGSPGSSTPSGATGSPGSTSESPSGTAPGTSPSGESSTAPGSTSSTAE SPGPGSSTPSGATGSPGASPGTSSTGSPGTPGSGTASSSPGSPAGSPTSTEEGS PAGSPTSTEEGTSTEPSEGSAP

Example 41 Calculation of TEPITOPE Scores

TEPITOPE scores of 9 mer peptide sequence can be calculated by adding pocket potentials as described by Sturniolo [Sturniolo, T., et al. (1999) Nat Biotechnol, 17: 555]. In the present Example, separate Tepitope scores were calculated for individual HLA alleles. Table 30 shows as an example the pocket potentials for HLA*0101B, which occurs in high frequency in the Caucasian population. To calculate the TEPITOPE score of a peptide with sequence P1-P2-P3-P4-P5-P6-P7-P8-P9, the corresponding individual pocket potentials in Table 30 were added. The HLA*0101B score of a 9 mer peptide with the sequence FDKLPRTSG (SEQ ID NO: 796) would be the sum of 0, −1.3, 0, 0.9, 0, −1.8, 0.09, 0, 0.

To evaluate the TEPITOPE scores for long peptides one can repeat the process for all 9 mer subsequences of the sequences. This process can be repeated for the proteins encoded by other HLA alleles. Tables 31-34 give pocket potentials for the protein products of HLA alleles that occur with high frequency in the Caucasian population.

TEPITOPE scores calculated by this method range from approximately −10 to +10. However, 9 mer peptides that lack a hydrophobic amino acid (FKLMVWY (SEQ ID NO: 797)) in P1 position have calculated TEPITOPE scores in the range of −1009 to −989. This value is biologically meaningless and reflects the fact that a hydrophobic amino acid serves as an anchor residue for HLA binding and peptides lacking a hydrophobic residue in P1 are considered non binders to HLA. Because most XTEN sequences lack hydrophobic residues, all combinations of 9 mer subsequences will have TEPITOPEs in the range in the range of −1009 to −989. This method confirms that XTEN polypeptides may have few or no predicted T-cell epitopes.

Lengthy table referenced here US08957021-20150217-T00001 Please refer to the end of the specification for access instructions.

Lengthy table referenced here US08957021-20150217-T00002 Please refer to the end of the specification for access instructions.

Lengthy table referenced here US08957021-20150217-T00003 Please refer to the end of the specification for access instructions.

Lengthy table referenced here US08957021-20150217-T00004 Please refer to the end of the specification for access instructions.

Lengthy table referenced here US08957021-20150217-T00005 Please refer to the end of the specification for access instructions.

Lengthy table referenced here US08957021-20150217-T00006 Please refer to the end of the specification for access instructions.

Lengthy table referenced here US08957021-20150217-T00007 Please refer to the end of the specification for access instructions.

Lengthy table referenced here US08957021-20150217-T00008 Please refer to the end of the specification for access instructions.

Lengthy table referenced here US08957021-20150217-T00009 Please refer to the end of the specification for access instructions.

LENGTHY TABLES The patent contains a lengthy table section. A copy of the table is available in electronic form from the USPTO web site (http://seqdata.uspto.gov/?pageRequest=docDetail&DocID=US08957021B2). An electronic copy of the table will also be available from the USPTO upon request and payment of the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.19(b)(3). 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated fusion protein, comprising a glucose regulating peptide (GP) that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, or SEQ ID NO:11, wherein said glucose regulating peptide is linked to an extended recombinant polypeptide (XTEN) of at least about 200 amino acids residues, wherein the XTEN is characterized in that: (a) the XTEN sequence comprises at least about 200 contiguous amino acids that exhibits at least 90% sequence identity to a comparable length of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 191-207; (b) the XTEN sequence lacks a predicted T-cell epitope when analyzed by TEPITOPE algorithm, wherein the TEPITOPE algorithm prediction for epitopes within the XTEN sequence is based on a score of −9 or greater; (c) the XTEN sequence has a subsequence score of less than 10; and (d) the sum of glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P) residues constitutes more than about 90% of the total number of amino acid residues of the XTEN.
 2. The isolated fusion protein of claim 1, further comprising a second XTEN sequence, and wherein the fusion protein adopts a multiple-XTEN configuration shown in Table
 7. 3. The isolated fusion protein of claim 1, wherein the glucose regulating peptide and the XTEN are linked via a spacer, wherein the spacer sequence comprises between 1 to about 50 amino acid residues, and wherein the spacer optionally comprises a cleavage sequence.
 4. The isolated fusion protein of claim 1, wherein the fusion protein binds to the same target receptor of the corresponding native glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN, and wherein said fusion protein retains at least about 0.1% to about 30% or greater of the binding affinity of the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN.
 5. An isolated fusion protein, comprising an amino acid sequence that has at least 90% sequence identity to an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOS: 808, 814, 816, 820, 884, 890, 896, 980, 983, 986, 988, and
 989. 6. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the isolated fusion protein of claim 1 or 5, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 7. The isolated protein of claim 1 that is configured according to formula I: (XTEN)_(x)-GP-(XTEN)_(y)  (I) wherein independently for each occurrence: (a) x is either 0 or 1; and (b) y is either 0 or 1, wherein x+y≧1.
 8. The isolated fusion protein of claim 1, wherein the XTEN is fused to the glucose regulating peptide on an N- or C-terminus of the glucose regulating peptide.
 9. An isolated fusion protein, comprising a glucose regulating peptide that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, or SEQ ID NO:11 and a first and a second XTEN that each are: (a) at least 90% identical to one or more amino acid sequences selected from selected from the group consisting of the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 191-207; (b) the XTEN sequence lacks a predicted T-cell epitope when analyzed by TEPITOPE algorithm, wherein the TEPITOPE algorithm prediction for epitopes within the XTEN sequence is based on a score of −9 or greater; (c) the XTEN sequence has a subsequence score of less than 10; and (d) the sum of glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P) residues constitutes more than about 90% of the total number of amino acid residues of the XTEN.
 10. The isolated fusion protein of claim 1, characterized in that: (i) the fusion protein has a longer terminal half-life when administered to a subject compared to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN when administered to a subject at a comparable molar dose; (ii) when a smaller molar amount of the fusion protein is administered to a subject in comparison to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN administered to a subject under an otherwise equivalent dose regimen, the fusion protein achieves a comparable area under the curve (AUC) as the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN; (iii) when a smaller molar amount of the fusion protein is administered to a subject in comparison to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN administered to a subject under an otherwise equivalent dose regimen, the fusion protein achieves a comparable therapeutic effect as the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN; (iv) when the fusion protein is administered to a subject less frequently in comparison to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN administered to a subject using an otherwise equivalent molar amount, the fusion protein achieves a comparable area under the curve (AUC) as the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN; (v) when the fusion protein is administered to a subject less frequently in comparison to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN administered to a subject using an otherwise equivalent molar amount, the fusion protein achieves a comparable therapeutic effect as the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN; (vi) when an accumulatively smaller molar amount of the fusion protein is administered to a subject in comparison to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN administered to a subject under an otherwise equivalent dose period, the fusion protein achieves comparable area under the curve (AUC) as the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN; or (vii) when an accumulatively smaller molar amount of the fusion protein is administered to a subject in comparison to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN administered to a subject under an otherwise equivalent dose period, the fusion protein achieves comparable therapeutic effect as the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN.
 11. A method of producing a fusion protein comprising a glucose regulating peptide fused to one or more extended recombinant polypeptides (XTEN), comprising: (a) providing a host cell comprising a recombinant polynucleotide molecule encoding the fusion protein of claim 1 or 5; (b) culturing the host cell under conditions permitting the expression of the fusion protein; and (c) recovering the fusion protein.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the glucose regulating peptide of the fusion protein has at least 90% sequence identity to: (a) human glucose regulating peptide; or (b) a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOS: 2-8 and
 10. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more XTEN of the expressed fusion protein has at least 90% sequence identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 191-207.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the polynucleotide molecule encoding the fusion protein comprises a nucleic acid sequence exhibiting at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 809, SEQ ID NO: 815, SEQ ID NO: 821, SEQ ID NO: 883, SEQ ID NO: 885, SEQ ID NO: 891, SEQ ID NO: 897, or SEQ ID NO:
 903. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the polynucleotide is codon optimized for enhanced expression of said fusion protein in the host cell.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the host cell is a prokaryotic cell.
 17. The method of claim 11, wherein the isolated fusion protein is recovered from the host cell cytoplasm with at least about 20% greater water solubility compared to the glucose regulating peptide not fused to XTEN.
 18. An isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the fusion protein of claim 1 or the complement thereof.
 19. An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim
 18. 20. An isolated host cell comprising the nucleic acid of claim 18, wherein the host cell is a prokaryotic host cell.
 21. A method of treating a glucose regulating peptide (GP) related condition in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the fusion protein of claim
 1. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the glucose regulating peptide related condition is selected from juvenile diabetes, type I diabetes, type II diabetes, obesity, acute hypoglycemia, acute hyperglycemia, nocturnal hypoglycemia, chronic hyperglycemia, glucagonomas, secretory disorders of the airway, arthritis, osteoporosis, central nervous system disease, restenosis, neurodegenerative disease, renal failure, congestive heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, cirrhosis, pulmonary edema, hypertension, stroke, irritable bowel syndrome, myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, post-surgical catabolic changes, hibernating myocardium, diabetic cardiomyopathy, insufficient urinary sodium excretion, excessive urinary potassium concentration, polycystic ovary syndrome, respiratory distress, nephropathy, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, diarrhea, postoperative dumping syndrome, critical illness polyneuropathy (CIPN), dyslipidemia, organ tissue injury caused by reperfusion of blood flow following ischemia, and coronary heart disease risk factor (CHDRF) syndrome.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the therapeutically effective amount results in maintaining blood concentrations of the fusion protein within a therapeutic window for the fusion protein at least three-fold longer compared to the corresponding native glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN administered at a therapeutically effective amount to a subject.
 24. The method of claim 21, wherein administration of two or more consecutive doses of a therapeutically effective amount of the fusion protein administered using a therapeutically effective dose regimen to a subject results in a gain in time between consecutive C_(max) peaks and/or C_(min) troughs for blood levels of the fusion protein compared to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide not linked to XTEN and administered to a subject using a therapeutically effective dose regimen established for the GP.
 25. The method of claim 21, wherein (i) a smaller molar amount of the fusion protein is administered to a subject in comparison to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN administered to a subject under an otherwise equivalent dose regimen, and the fusion protein achieves a comparable therapeutic effect as the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN; (ii) the fusion protein is administered less frequently to a subject in comparison to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN administered to a subject using an otherwise equivalent molar dose, and the fusion protein achieves a comparable therapeutic effect as the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN; or (iii) an accumulatively smaller molar amount of the fusion protein is administered to a subject in comparison to the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN administered to a subject under the otherwise equivalent dose period, the fusion protein achieves a comparable therapeutic effect as the corresponding glucose regulating peptide that lacks the XTEN.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the therapeutic effect is a measured parameter selected from HbA1c concentrations, insulin concentrations, stimulated C peptide, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum cytokine levels, CRP levels, insulin secretion and Insulin-sensitivity index derived from an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), body weight, and food consumption.
 27. An isolated fusion protein comprising a glucose regulating peptide, wherein said glucose regulating peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and wherein said glucose regulating peptide is linked to an extended recombinant polypeptide (XTEN) of at least about 200 amino acids residues, wherein the XTEN is characterized in that: (a) the XTEN sequence comprises at least about 200 contiguous amino acids that exhibits at least 90% sequence identity to a comparable length of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 191-207; (b) the XTEN sequence lacks a predicted T-cell epitope when analyzed by TEPITOPE algorithm, wherein the TEPITOPE algorithm prediction for epitopes within the XTEN sequence is based on a score of −9 or greater; (c) the XTEN sequence has a subsequence score of less than 10; and (d) the sum of glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S), threonine (T), glutamate (E) and proline (P) residues constitutes more than about 90% of the total number of amino acid residues of the XTEN.
 28. The isolated fusion protein of claim 27, wherein the XTEN comprises an amino acid sequence which has at least 90% homology to SEQ ID NO:
 199. 29. The isolated fusion protein of claim 27, comprising an amino acid sequence which has at least 90% homology to SEQ ID NO:
 896. 30. The isolated fusion protein of claim 27, comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 896. 